Lineal world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury will take on former European champion and two-time world title challenger Francesco Pianeta at Windsor Park on August 18.
Fury (26-0-KO19) returned from two-and-a-half years out of the ring with a dominant stoppage of Sefer Seferi in Manchester on June 9 and will continue his march back towards the top against Pianeta (35-4-1-KO21).
Pianeta, who won the WBC world youth crown before picking up EBU and WBO European titles, has twice challenged for world honours – losing to Wladimir Klitschko in 2013 and to Ruslan Chagaev two years later.
Promoter Frank Warren said: “The Seferi fight is history and Pianeta is a far better operator than him. His level of opposition tells you that.
“Tyson had been out of boxing for a long time and Pianeta is a good opponent for what is Tyson’s second fight back after his break.
“Tyson had a short rest after fighting Seferi but is back in full-time camp and ready for his challenge in Belfast.
“He needs rounds under his belt before moving on to the next level and this fight will make him work for his win.
“I’m sure Pianeta will get into that ring desperate to upset Tyson.”
Fury v Pianeta is added to a colossal stadium show that also includes Carl Frampton v Luke Jackson, Cristofer Rosales v Paddy Barnes for the WBC world flyweight title, Luke Keeler, Lewis Crocker, Marco McCullough and more.
IN OTHER NEWS: Londoner Larry Ekundayo has told IBF European welterweight title rival John Thain he faces a hostile atmosphere at York Hall on Friday night.
Ekundayo (13-1-KO3) and Thain (17-3-0-KO1) do battle for the vacant belt at the home of UK boxing and although originally from Nigeria, Ekundayo has fought the majority of his professional career at the venue.
‘The Natural’ said: “York Hall is my home. I live around the corner from there and have so many good memories of fighting there.
“I won Prizefighter there. I won the International Masters there. I won many more. In terms of boxing, it’s a place I feel completely comfortable in. Now I want to win the European title there.
“It means a lot for me to fight for Nigeria. I started boxing there at the age of 12. I had no parents around and boxing was the only thing that kept me going through hard times.
“To represent Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games and in many other international fights makes me very proud. Now, you have Anthony Joshua as the heavyweight champion and he has Nigerian heritage too. It means a lot.
“I’m trying to bring more sporting glory to Nigeria and inspire the youth. At this moment, I’m ready to make history and I hope all the Nigerians come out to support me on Friday night.”
