Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
FURY: IT’S SO ON WITH ‘BEYONCE’!
TYSON FURY has promised that his fight with Deontay Wilder is “on like Donkey Kong” if he beats Francesco Pianeta on Saturday.
Fury, who celebrates his 30th birthday today, will be back in the ring for the second time since his return to boxing in June.
Then, he beat Sefer Seferi in a serious mismatch, two-and-a-half years after dethroning Wladimir Klitschko to become heavyweight champion of the world.
Providing he beats Pianeta (right), Fury is set to meet WBC champ Wilder, with negotiations at an advanced stage.
Fury said: “One hundred per cent, the plan is to fight Wilder before the end of the year.
“I don’t know why people don’t listen, we’ve said it 100 times – fighting Wilder is going to happen, it’s not a publicity stunt.
“What would Wilder have to gain from saying he is going to fight me? Nothing.
“He’s not coming to Belfast for the fun of it.
“If I get past Pianeta, then the fight is on – it’s on like Donkey Kong.
“I’ll get past Pianeta and then I will go and fight Wilder somewhere.
“Ain’t going to happen if I don’t win – ‘Beyonce’ Wilder is in the future and I have to get past Pianeta first.”
Fury points to James DeGale’s well-laid plans to fight Billy Joe Saunders collapsing after a defeat by Caleb Truax in December last year.
Fury added: “You only take one fight at a time where I’m from, or else you end up like James DeGale – beat up.
“I’m concentrating on this man in front of me.
“But if I’m half the man I was a few years ago, I will write Pianeta off like a good ‘un, put a face on him like the Elephant Man.”
Fury played up to the crowd during his comeback fight against Seferi, but this time there will be no games.
He said: “My promoter, Frank Warren, wants strictly business, and Frank will get strictly business. It’s like the world knows, the biggest heavyweight fight for many years is looming.”
Wilder will be ringside commentating for TV and, assuming Fury comes through the contest unscathed, there’ll be no surprise if the two face off in the ring post-match.
Fury said: “It won’t be off-putting, having Wilder ringside. I will deal with him when I’m done with the fight.”