Fury’s fate to be decided at UKAD case on Monday

Tyson fury shares anthony Joshua’s interest in a world heavyweight title fight but he must await the outcome of a UK Anti-doping hearing on Monday before securing any return to the ring.

Former IBF, WBA and WBO champion Fury has not fought since his November 2015 defeat of Wladimir Klitschko, who was stopped in 11 rounds by reigning IBF and WBA champion Joshua at Wembley on Saturday.

Fury vacated the WBA and WBO titles he held last October after admitting using cocaine to cope with depression, after which the British Boxing of Control (BBBC) suspended his boxing licence.

That development came after an ankle injury had forced the postponement of his proposed rematch with Klitschko, and after Fury and his younger cousin Hughie were charged “with presence of a prohibited substance” by UKAD.

The 27-year-old Joshua’s defeat of Klitschko, and the belief that still exists in some quarters that Fury remains the world’s finest heavyweight, potentially makes a fight between the two rivals the biggest in British boxing.

The Fury camp are confident about the outcome of the UKAD hearing for both Tyson and Hughie, and have targeted 8 July, when Billy Joe Saunders is set to defend his WBO middleweight title against Georgia’s Avtandil Khurtsidze, for a potential comeback.

However, fury would also have to again be licenced to fight by the British Boxing Board of Control.

Fury’s promoter Frank Warren said: “Tyson’s training with Saunders; we want him to fight on that card, and he wants to fight on that card. If he gets an all-clear he’ll fight on that show.

“Why shouldn’t [the BBBC] give him his licence? If he’s mentally and physically able to box there’s no reason they shouldn’t. He’s been having treatment.

“He’s just turned 28: he’s not an old man. He’s lost a stone-and-a-half; he should lose weight very quickly provided he’s training.”