By Jake Donovan
Tyson Fury remains on the hunt for an October foe.
The unbeaten Brit sat ringside as a VIP guest for Saturday’s clash of unbeaten British heavyweights between Fury’s cousin, Nathan Gorman and London’s Daniel Dubois. The bout tops a loaded card on ESPN+, a platform on which Fury made his first appearance in a 2nd round knockout of Germany’s Tom Schwarz just one month ago in Las Vegas.
It was the first of a multi-fight deal with the ESPN family, at an estimated worth in the neighborhood of $100 million. He’s already on the books for a planned rematch with unbeaten titlist Deontay Wilder, with whom he fought to a disputed 12-round draw last December. The pair of undefeated hulking heavyweights are rumored to collide in the 1st quarter of 2020, with both afforded an interim fight to further arouse interest.
Wilder will first enter another rematch of his own, as he and Luis Ortiz are due to tangle a second time. A date has yet to be announced for their forthcoming title fight, initially slated for September 28 in Los Angeles but with both date and location since proving fluid as the bout remains in limbo.
Meanwhile, Fury is planning a fall ring return of his own. The former lineal heavyweight champion—who claimed Fighter of the Year honors from several outlets following his Nov. 2015 landslide win over exiting champion Wladimir Klitschko—is of the belief his next fight will take place in October in the United States, although currently lacking any clear-cut candidate to land the assignment.
“We’re coming back in October, I’m looking at opponents,” Fury said in between fights during a live interview with BT Sport, who carried the event live in the United Kingdon. “ESPN wants an American opponent for the fight.”
The list was shortened to two unbeaten American heavyweights, at least if Fury (28-0-1, 20KOs) has final say on the matter.
“I suggested Jarrell Miller, he’s unbeaten and high on the list,” insisted the British heavyweight, although such a pairing remains problematic.
Miller has yet to fight in 2019, entirely due to his failing several drug tests which cost him a multi-million dollar payday versus then-unbeaten and unified titlist Anthony Joshua. The two were due to collide in June at Madison Square Garden in New York City, mere miles from Miller’s Brooklyn hometown.
His drug testing follies removed him from the mix, with Andy Ruiz instead landing the assignment—and proceeding to shock the world. The California-bred heavyweight recovered from a 3rd round knockdown to score four of his own in scoring a 7th round stoppage to become the first boxer of Mexican descent to win a major heavyweight title.
Meanwhile, Miller has come out of hibernation although not quite yet kicking off his redemption tour. Excuses continue to accompany his multiple failed drug tests, nor has he yet enrolled in any type of random drug testing to prove he is—or can be—a clean fighter.
There also remains the matter of his having been denied a license by the New York State Athletic Commission, which was due to oversee his fight with Joshua. While not suspended by any given state commission, his Federal ID is currently flagged and will have to clear up matters with his home state before any other reputable commission will grant him a license.
All of it adds up to Miller being an unlikely final candidate, which leads to another unbeaten New York-based heavyweight.
“There’s always Trevor Bryan, also unbeaten and has a WBA title,” noted Fury. “Obviously Wilder (after that), but that’s dubbed for February and we need an opponent for October.
“If you’re American and you have a good record, come see me. The Gypsy King will put you to work.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox