Tyson Fury’s dad doubts Anthony Joshua fight happens next and reveals Andy Ruiz Jr features in three-man list of potential opponents his son could face on December 3
Tyson Fury could end up facing former unified heavyweight world champion Andy Ruiz Jr if a fight with Anthony Joshua falls through.
Joshua agreed terms to face the Gypsy King at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on December 3, however, a delay in signing a contract has put the fight in serious jeopardy.
John Fury doubts a fight between his son and AJ will happen next and expressed his belief that the two British superstars will probably clash next year.
“It’s not going to happen this year I don’t think. No, it’s very doubtful,” he told the Daily Mail.
“We’d have it tomorrow. We’ve been dogging AJ and his team like you won’t believe for this fight, you know. You just don’t want it. They just don’t want it.”
“I can understand why [they are stalling on the contracts]. He’s their Golden Boy. A defeat to Tyson Fury, financially… it would financial suicide for them, wouldn’t it? That’s why they don’t want it.’
“I think Joshua’s sort of like getting doubts about fighting the Gypsy King.”
‘Big John’ confirmed that Fury will be defending his WBC heavyweight title in December regardless of whether Joshua signs to fight him.
The 58-year-old claims that Ruiz Jr is being considered as an alternative to Joshua, as is former Deontay Wilder opponent, Luis Ortiz, and the undefeated Croatian Filip Hrgovic.
Fury said: “We’re looking at other people. Look at Andy Ruiz, Luis Ortiz and Filip Hrgovic, or whoever wants to fight. It’s a good business.”
One man the head of the Fury clan didn’t mention is Mahmoud Charr.
The 37-year-old former WBA ‘regular’ champion is believed to be the favourite to fight Fury later this year and he even claims to have already signed a contract to fight for the heavyweight title.
After receiving backlash for entertaining a fight with someone who hasn’t been relevant since 2015, Fury did some thinking and came up with an alternative plan.
“Just been doing a little bit of brainstorming,” Fury said earlier this week.
“December 3 is coming and Mahmoud Charr has agreed. Why don’t I fight two people in one night, Mahmoud Charr and somebody else.
It’s currently unclear who Fury will fight in a couple of months’ time.
Everyone is hoping it’s Joshua, but Ruiz, Ortiz, and Hrgovic aren’t bad backup options and will be met with glee in comparison to a ludicrous fight with Charr.
