Fury: ‘I’ll shock everyone to win world title belt’
HUGHIE Fury insists he will shock the world and prove the doubters wrong when he finally takes on Joseph Parker for the WBO heavyweight title at the Manchester Arena on September 23.
The two were originally set to meet in New Zealand in May, but an injury forced Fury to pull out of the fight.
The bout has been re-arranged after weeks of negotiations, with Fury now getting home advantage against reigning champion Parker.
Both men are unbeaten in their careers, and Fury is excited to challenge for the title in Manchester.
“I’ve waited so long for this chance and my team have worked very hard to get me this fight and I’d like to thank everyone involved,” he said.
“I’m going to shock the world and prove all my doubters wrong and what better place to do it than in my home city of Manchester.
“Parker is a good fighter and I’ve no doubt we’ll both bring our A-game on fight night, but the fight is now on and I can’t wait to be crowned world champion.”
Fury will warm up for the fight against Parker when he makes his return to the ring at the Copper Box in London next Saturday against an as yet unnamed opponent, on a bill that also includes the likes of Bradley Skeete and Anthony Yarde. It will be his first fight in more than a year, having not competed since beating Fred Kassai by technical decision last April. Parker went on to face Razvan Cojanu in May after Fury pulled out of the original fight, and while he is looking forward to defending his belt on enemy soil, he believes he may have more fans in attendance than his opponent.
“I’m excited that the next defence of my WBO world title will be in England because it is now the home of heavyweight boxing and I need to be fighting there regularly,” he said.
“Fighting away from home holds no fears for me.
“I will arrive having previously fought on the undercard of a Wladimir Klitschko world title fight in Germany and also twice in America. I believe that with so many Kiwis and Samoans living in the UK, I may even have more supporters in the crowd on fight night than Hughie Fury.”
Fury currently has a record of 20-0, including 10 wins inside the distance, while Parker is 23-0 with 18 of those wins coming by stoppage.
The event is set to be one of the first to take place at the Arena when it re-opens in September following the bombing in May.
HUGHIE TO FACE CHAMPION PARKER IN ARENA CLASH