By Elliot Foster
TYSON FURY admits he could do with one more fight before a rumoured showdown for the world title.
The former unified world heavyweight king, who went to Germany in November 2015 and dethroned Wladimir Klitschko to claim the WBA Super, IBF, IBO, WBO and Ring Magazine titles, made the second appearance of his comeback roadshow last week.
Fury outpointed German-based Italian Francesco Pianeta at Windsor Park in Belfast, exclusively live on BT Sport, to set up a winter clash with America’s WBC world champion Deontay Wilder.
Wilder met Fury in the ring after the fight to talk up a fight which Boxing Scene understands will be screened exclusively live on BT Sport Box Office.
But after his 100-90 shutout victory, Fury admitted that he could do with more ring time, following a 924-day period of exile, before going back in at the upper echelons of the sport’s premier division.
“In an ideal world I could have done with another 10-round or 12-round fight, we know the world isn’t ideal,” he said. “I’ll put my best foot forward and rise up to the occasion. Going into [the] Wlad [Klitschko fight] I only had two fights: Dereck Chisora and Christian Hammer, then I had 10 months out before beating Wlad.
“At least this time I’m going in with two fights. I’m happy with the performance.
“Wilder congratulated me and said it was a great performance. I could have stood there and traded with him but I didn’t mean a one-round KO, I needed rounds.
“Pianeta came with a tight defence, awkward to land on him, he trained hard and was a resilient opponent.
“I could have chose someone who wasn’t as tough but I’m happy with the opponent. I enjoyed every minute of it.”
Frank Warren, Fury’s promoter, said following Fury’s win against Pianeta that the date and the Las Vegas venue for the Wilder-Fury fight will be revealed this week.
The fight will also be screened exclusively live on Showtime Pay-Per-View.
“I’ll bring some great guys over, I’ve got enough time to prepare for anybody,” Fury continued when talking about the fight with Wilder. “I’m not going into this for a paycheque, I wouldn’t lose for £100million, you can’t pay any amount of money for me to go Vegas to get sparked out.
“If I didn’t believe I could win this fight I’d pack up and retire today, I don’t box to be second best or to make numbers up, I box to be the best I can be, If I ain’t good enough so be it, I’m taking this fight because I know I can win.
“I know multimillionaires and billionaires too, money doesn’t drive me, I’ll go to Vegas for free and fight Wilder, I’d rather have no money and win than £200 billion and lose.
“My walls haven’t breached in 10 years. We will leave no stones unturned, we’re going to America to win, that’s how we roll. If I can come back from the brink of defeat I can do anything, I know what life is like on the other side, I also know now what it’s about being in a good place and I’m going to go to Las Vegas and knock Deontay Wilder the f*** out.”
