Tyson Fury has announced he will take on Marius Wach on June 24 in Thailand, just one month before his blockbuster showdown with Anthony Joshua. The former two-time heavyweight world champion, 37, will use the bout as a tune-up for the long-awaited all-British clash later this year.
Fury's Return and Joshua Agreement
Fury retired after back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk but made a U-turn and returned to the ring in April, defeating Arslanbek Makhmudov by comfortable points decision in front of over 60,000 fans at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. He immediately called out Joshua, who was sitting ringside, but 'AJ' refused to enter the ring. Days later, both stars agreed to a monumental fight, with each required to have a tune-up bout first.
Opponents and Venues
Joshua will face knockout artist Kristian Prenga on July 25 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Fury's fight against Wach will take place in Thailand. Fury has been critical of Joshua's chin, stating, "I'll knock him out for sure. He will not be able to survive against me. He does not have any chin and I will bang him on it because I am quicker than him and I am a better boxer."
Fury pointed to Joshua's recent knockout loss to Daniel Dubois as evidence, saying, "The only one who got knocked out and knocked down five times was Joshua. So I will put him back in where he should be. Bambi on ice."
Promoter Praise
Fury praised Turki Alalshikh for making the fight happen, noting that unlike previous promoter issues, Alalshikh has the funds and willingness to get deals done quickly.
