Fury to return to the ring next year
Three candidates have so far confirmed participation
Tyson Fury is being primed for a spring return to the ring but is enjoying some muchneeded family time, according to promoter Frank Warren.
The British boxer defended his WBC heavyweight crown earlier this month with an 11thround knockout of American rival, Deontay Wilder to bring their trilogy fight to a dramatic climax in Las Vegas.
Immediately after the victory, Fury admitted he would enjoy a ‘ well- earned break’ after a chaotic build- up to the bout with an original July date pushed back after the 33- year- old contracted Covid- 19, while his new- born daughter also spent time in intensive care unit in August.
Asked when the ‘ Gypsy King’ can be expected back in the ring, co- promoter Frank Warren told the PA news agency: “If and when he wants to, because he is the one who will make the decision, I think it will be some time in the spring.
“Tyson was training for 20 months in between Covid and things getting pushed back. He had the unfortunate thing with his new- born daughter going into intensive care on two occasions, so it has been a really tough time for him.
“He needed to switch off, you need to switch off and let your body recover as well but he will keep fit and keep his weight down. He needed to take his foot off the gas from the serious training and have a bit of time out.”
Fury, who had to climb off the canvas twice during his third meeting with Wilder at the TMobile Arena, may halt his period of switching off at the end of this month to cast an eye over a potential opponent.
Dillian Whyte is currently the mandatory challenger for the WBC belt and has waited patiently for his shot at a world title but defeat to Swedish boxer, Otto Wallin at the O2 Arena on October 30, could scupper plans for an all- British clash in 2022.
“I spoke to him yesterday and he is chilling. He is with his family, enjoying himself and taking it easy. It is quiet where he is up in Morecambe,” Warren said of Fury.
“Will Tyson watch Whyte- Wallin? I don’t know, but he watches all the fights because Tyson is like his namesake Mike Tyson, they are boxing gurus. They love it and can talk about boxing non- stop. They both know boxing inside out, certainly the heavyweight scene and Tyson is a student of the game. He doesn’t miss much.
“If Wallin wins, they have a rematch clause with him so if that happens then Dillian will not be able to fulfil any mandatory situation. It is all quite up in the air at the moment so we will let things settle down. We are all pretty cool where we are at the moment and we’ll wait to see where we go.”
The year 2017 saw an intense battle in which five candidates showed keen interest to succeed Negros Kgosietsile as the Botswana National Olympic Committee ( BNOC) President.
Following a spirited campaign, Colonel Botsang Tshenyego emerged victorious after amassing 15 votes to beat his rivals, Ookeditse Malesu ( 6), Tebogo Lebotse Sebego ( 2), France Mabiletsa ( 2) and Daniel Molaodi ( 1), to the position of BNOC Presidency.
A date for the organization’s elective congress is set for November 6th next month and the candidates names have been released.
Familiar foes from the 2017 campaign will once again battle it out for BNOC’s top seat as the incumbent Colonel Tshenyego and Ookeditse Malesu have shown interest. They will however have another challenger as former Softball President, Tirelo Mokukumani has put up his name.
In an interview with BG Sport, the incumbent president, Colonel Botsang Tshenyego, revealed some of the achievements they have managed during his tenure and further outlined why there is a need for continuity hence he is seeking a second term in the office.
“We have managed to achieve some of the objectives that we had set ourselves but others we fell short. Promoting the spirit of Olympism and the Commonwealth ideals, Olympic values and running education programmes are some of the key areas where we’ve made positive strides. We had the biggest number of a team ( athletes and team officials) that went to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics,” Tshenyego Highlighted.
In 2017, three women were included in the committee and it was for the first time in history of BNOC to have more women in the executive committee. Women empowerment continues to be a priority for the incumbent BNOC boss and capacitation of women in sports has been exercised. “We have invested in women empowerment, we have had Masters and degree graduates in sports administration courses; we’ve had 10 athletes enrolled under Olympic Solidarity programmes and this is important for the development of our sports,” he said.
Botswana also had three finalist at the Olympics, an achievement that the BNOC boss is content with.
Although he cited several key areas of success, Tshenyego also acknowledged that there are areas where they fell short.
“Sponsorship remains a challenge, we are engaging to see how best we can work together with relevant stakeholders to get the support we want. For example, we opened diplomacy policies to see how best they can help, this has seen the French and the Japanese embassies contribute significantly ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, BTTA ( Botswana Table Tennis Association) have sent athletes to India using the same routine and it is encouraging,” he shared. Tshenyego also noted that, due to COVID- 19 challenges, they utilized technology to achieve some of their mandates, including running various IOC courses.
After coming second best in 2017 BNOC elections, Ookeditse Malesu once again bit the dust during last year’s Botswana Football Association ( BFA) elections as he contended for the presidency position. He however, will not just lie down, epitomizing the true spirit of a top athlete.
“I have been beaten and battered by sports, but because I love sports, I choose to stand again. I believe in volunteerism and what I can give back to the country is through sports. For the rest of my life, I’ve done sports. When I see things not done right, I will stand, people running sports currently are under selling this product, they are under selling the country,” Malesu expressed his reasons for once again contending for the BNOC presidency.
He gave example of Makwala’s solo run and feels it is a moment which the country did not exhaust the full value of the historic flash. He further added that, “I am worried right now, most of our top athletes are managed by foreigners but they were developed by locals. Most sporting codes have no sponsorship, and that is bad for our sport development, our situation is in disarray,” he said.
Quizzed on how he intends to turn his fortunes around this year and sway the delegate’s vote to his side, the former Karate President revealed how his relationship with those entrusted to vote in the BNOC leadership has improved.
“Last time, the dynamics were different. In 2017, they ( delegates) wanted me to stand for the BNOC 2nd Vice President but I went against their wish; this time around, we are all in agreement with several affiliates on my position and I’m confident we’ll emerge victorious,” buoyant Malesu concluded.
Contacted for comment, former softball president, Tirelo Mukokomani opted not to dwell much onto the discussion regarding his candidacy but rather in succinct, confirmed that he is vying for the BNOC president position. “I can confirm that I am a candidate, the state of our sports, athletes and volunteers have prompted my interest to stand up and serve,” he stated.