Belfast the final stepping stone before Tyson Fury v Deontay Wilder
Tyson Fury versus Francesco Pianeta at Windsor Park this Saturday night will be the precursor to a massive world heavyweight title fight between the Gypsy King and Deontay Wilder, claims the Brown Bomber himself.
The teams of both fighters have revealed the pair are in talks to fight later this year in revelations which have come as a surprise to the boxing world.
WBC champ Wilder [40(39)-0] had been in arduous talks with WBA-IBF-WBO holder Anthony Joshua regarding an undisputed unification before Fury came into the picture claiming that the fight is almost done.
However, considering former Irish champion Fury [26(19)-0] will be just two fights into a comeback following a two-and-a-half year absence skepticism remains.
There are a host of pundits and fans suggesting it’s all a publicity stunt ahead of the Windsor Park fight night topped by Carl Frampton.
Yet Wilder, who has confirmed he will be ringside in Belfast this weekend, is confident the ‘Gypsy King’ is serious about wanting to challenge for his famous green strap in November.
“It’s not a concern at all for me,” Wilder told BoxingScene.com when asked about the possibility of Fury backing out.
“Me and Fury have been talking closely. We’ve been talking privately and we’ve been having long discussions about this fight. He’s been sincere. I don’t see him not taking this fight because what does Fury have to lose?”
“This is an opportunity of a lifetime for him, too. He’s never had the WBC title. He’s never fought for this. The WBC title is the title, so this is a major opportunity for him as well as I.”
“Personally, I don’t think he would pass up this opportunity. I think he’s gonna show up and show out, and he’s gonna give fans what he’s been talking about.”
It's fight week! Tyson Fury is READY…
"Put me in the jungle? I'll be a ruler.
Put me in space? I'll own the place.
I am the Gypsy King.
I am Tyson Fury.
Peace out." pic.twitter.com/UEIylt5LCX— BT Sport (@btsport) August 13, 2018
Fury will still need to defeat Pianeta this weekend if he is to challenge Wilder, most likely in Vegas, but the German-based Italian is seen as being little threat.
While Pianeta [35(21)-4(3)-1] challenged Wladimir Klitschko for the unified title back in 2013, the southpaw has gone off a cliff since, being stopped by faded former champ Ruslan Chagaev and gatekeeper Kevin Johnson as well as losing his last fight to prospect Peter Milas.
The 35-year-old is a step-up from Fury’s ridiculed comeback opponent, Albanian cruiserweight Sefer Seferi, but isn’t expected to pose problems and was seen as another gradual step on the road back to full fitness and sharpness.
However, now it seems that Pianeta is the only thing standing between Fury and a much earlier than expected title shot.
