The opponent for Tyson Fury’s return to boxing has been set. The controversial heavyweight hasn’t fought since his stunning upset victory over Wladimir Klitschko in 2015, which saw him crowned heavyweight champion, acquiring three world titles and the lineal crown.
After the rematch fell through, Fury encountered multiple professional and personal issues that kept him out of the ring. Two positive tests for cocaine, a doping case, mental health and weight issues meant he was forced to relinquish his belts and take an extended period out of the fight game. During his period of absence, we have seen a revitalisation of the heavyweight division, Fury’s relinquished titles have since been picked up by Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder who looked destined to meet to unify in the near future, in perhaps the biggest fight in the sport of boxing.
Fury will begin his road back to the top against Macedonian Sefer Seferi (23-1, 21 KOs) in a bout scheduled for 10 rounds on Frank Warrens June 9th show in the Manchester Arena. Seferi is undoubtedly a safe opponent his record built primarily against weak opposition, his lone step up in saw him lose a decision against Manuel Charr. Having campaigned for the majority of his career at cruiserweight he will also be the much smaller man on the night, a career-high weight of 15 stone 6lbs will be substantially smaller the Tyson Fury who is expected to hit the scales somewhere close to 19 stone.
Promoter Frank Warren noted Fury’s need for warm-up fights after such 2 ½ years out of the ring. “He needs comeback fights in order to shake off the ring rust after such a lengthy absence.” Warren insisted that Seferi was coming to provide Fury with a test. “Seferi is no pushover. He’s gone the distance with a world-class fighter in Manuel Charr.”
After such a substantial time out of the ring Fury was never going to jump in with the division’s best. An opponent in Seferi who is expected to lose but also provide Fury with the much-needed rounds to work off any ring rust and any potential kinks felt by the recent switch in trainers, after parting ways with the longtime coach, Peter Fury to link up with Ben Davison.
Fury has become a fan favourite during his time in exile, a strong social media presence has charted the ups and downs of the Tyson Fury story, and the public has been eagerly anticipating the Gypsy Kings return. After the June 9th show in Manchester, we will likely see the boxing fans debate Fury’s potential to return to the top, by dispatching of Seferi he will certainly enter the conversation. A post-fight callout of the heavyweight elite will send the masses into overdrive as they consider the mouth-watering contests in store.
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