Boxing Fury says Joshua fight’s no closer

WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury admits his highlyanticipated fight with Anthony Joshua is no closer to being finalised.

The bout against Joshua, holder of the WBA, WBO and IBF belts, has been touted for months but the added complication of the coronavirus pandemic has made negotiations even more difficult.

“They’ve had a full year to make something happen, and it hasn’t happened as of yet. We’re no further forward today than we were a year ago,” Fury told ESPN.

“The way (Covid-19) is at the moment, I don’t think (it has) got much to do with the fighters. It’s to do with the venue, date, place, site fees. It’s to do with everything but the fight itself.”

RYAN Lowe expects Jerome Opoku to be fit for Plymouth Argyle’s League One game against second-placed Lincoln City at Home Park tomorrow.

The 22-year-old defender limped off in the second half of the 3-0 home defeat by Peterborough United on Tuesday because of a knee injury.

He was replaced in the 74th minute by Sam Woods, the loan signing from Crystal Palace, who made only his second appearance for Argyle coming off the bench.

Opoku has been playing in the centre of the Pilgrims’ three-man defence over recent matches, with Will Aimson and Kell Watts either side of him.

Lowe said: “He’s alright, he’s a big tough lad Jerome is. His knee just locked up on him but he’s fine.

“He will do a little bit today with Dave (Galley, Argyle’s head physio). He’s jogging so, touch wood, he will be okay.”

Lincoln were top of the table until they drew 2-2 at home to John Sheridan’s Swindon Town on Tuesday, which allowed Peterborough to overtake them.

Lowe has named an unchanged side for four successive games and there has been a high workload for a lot of the players recently. There will be players who have been substitutes hoping to get an opportunity against Lincoln.

Lowe said: “We were absolutely gutted after the (Peterborough) game because the first half was great, the second half wasn’t so good. A lot of those lads have been on a nine-match unbeaten run and played some fantastic football, so I have to take that into account.

“Yeah, do I need to make sure one or two are ready and fully fit? Of course we will have to have a look at that.

“But I won’t just make changes for the sake of it. I will make changes for the good of the team.”

Argyle have played a couple games of their busy nine-match schedule in 29 days and a lot of effort is being put into making sure the players stay fit.

Lowe said: “I was in yesterday morning (Wednesday) and there was a few lads in as well getting their recovery work in because everything is here for them.

“They were doing the right things, doing a bit of the gym we use underneath the stand.

“We have got a good group and if they need to go for an hour’s walk and a stretch they will do it.

“If they need to go for a jog they will do it. They come in for ice baths and to get massages.

“We need to make sure we keep monitoring their loads, putting fluids into them and everything else that comes with it.”