Tyson Fury will be back and stepping into the professional boxing ring on Saturday, 9 June, but who will be standing across from him?
The Gypsy King announced his comeback on Thursday, but no opponent was announced with the former heavyweight champion leaving us all guessing.
Boxing fans cannot wait for a potential showdown with Anthony Joshua, but that will not happen next, or even any time soon, so who will Fury face in Manchester?
The bookies have some ideas and are offering prices on Furys next opponent, here are the favourites…
Shannon Briggs (60-6-1) – 2/1
The 46-year-old former world champion has not fought since May 2016 and was handed a six-month ban by the WBA in July 2017 for a failed drugs test.
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The Cannon is nowhere near Furys level these days, but his borderline insane fight promotion would make for an entertaining build-up.
Is the world ready to hear Lets Go Champ! 10,000 times-a-day for weeks on end?
Gary Cornish (25-2) – 2/1
The giant 67″ Scot has an impressive-looking record, but he has failed on his two steps up in quality.
In September 2015 Cornish was 21-0 when he stepped in with Anthony Joshua, getting splattered in the first round by the Olympic champ.
Highlander recovered with three wins but then was outpointed by Sam Sexton last year for the British title.
Kevin Johnson (32-9-1) – 4/1
Another former Joshua victim and also someone Fury has fought before himself.
The Gypsy King took 12 rounds to beat the American in 2012, whilst Joshua knocked him out in two rounds in 2015.
Johnson has lost six of his last 10 and has already been knocked out in 2018, by little-known Croat Petar Milas.
The other contenders
- Alexander Ustinov 6/1
- Alexander Povetkin 7/1
- Dominic Breazeale 7/1
- Carlos Takam 8/1
- Artur Szpilka 9/1
- Mariusz Wach 11/1
- Christian Hammer 14/1
- Jarrell Miller 14/1
- Manuel Charr 14/1
- Dillian Whyte 16/1
- Anthony Joshua 20/1
- Luis Ortiz 20/1
- David Price 33/1
- Joseph Parker 40/1
- Dereck Chisora 50/1
All odds courtesy of Sky Bet
In reality, the level of competition for Furys comeback could be lower than expected by the bookies, especially if Eddie Hearns opinion is anything to go by.
Joshuas promoter told iFL on the prospect of signing Fury: I was approached by his lawyer and his team. We had different ideas about the opponents and the level of the opponents he was going to come back to.
I know he needs to come back with a couple of easy fights, but theres easy fights and then theres fights that Im just going to get absolutely crucified for.
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Fury chose to sign with Frank Warren instead of Hearns Matchroom Sports, and we can expect a fight announcement from Warren in the coming days.
MORE: Tyson Fury TERMINATES interview and walks off after questions about his past
MORE: Tyson Fury insists he would be happy if he never won another fight
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Tyson Fury will be back and stepping into the professional boxing ring on Saturday, 9 June, but who will be standing across from him?
The Gypsy King announced his comeback on Thursday, but no opponent was announced with the former heavyweight champion leaving us all guessing.
Boxing fans cannot wait for a potential showdown with Anthony Joshua, but that will not happen next, or even any time soon, so who will Fury face in Manchester?
The bookies have some ideas and are offering prices on Furys next opponent, here are the favourites…
Shannon Briggs (60-6-1) – 2/1
The 46-year-old former world champion has not fought since May 2016 and was handed a six-month ban by the WBA in July 2017 for a failed drugs test.
AdvertisementAdvertisement
The Cannon is nowhere near Furys level these days, but his borderline insane fight promotion would make for an entertaining build-up.
Is the world ready to hear Lets Go Champ! 10,000 times-a-day for weeks on end?
Gary Cornish (25-2) – 2/1
The giant 67″ Scot has an impressive-looking record, but he has failed on his two steps up in quality.
In September 2015 Cornish was 21-0 when he stepped in with Anthony Joshua, getting splattered in the first round by the Olympic champ.
Highlander recovered with three wins but then was outpointed by Sam Sexton last year for the British title.
Kevin Johnson (32-9-1) – 4/1
Another former Joshua victim and also someone Fury has fought before himself.
The Gypsy King took 12 rounds to beat the American in 2012, whilst Joshua knocked him out in two rounds in 2015.
Johnson has lost six of his last 10 and has already been knocked out in 2018, by little-known Croat Petar Milas.
The other contenders
- Alexander Ustinov 6/1
- Alexander Povetkin 7/1
- Dominic Breazeale 7/1
- Carlos Takam 8/1
- Artur Szpilka 9/1
- Mariusz Wach 11/1
- Christian Hammer 14/1
- Jarrell Miller 14/1
- Manuel Charr 14/1
- Dillian Whyte 16/1
- Anthony Joshua 20/1
- Luis Ortiz 20/1
- David Price 33/1
- Joseph Parker 40/1
- Dereck Chisora 50/1
All odds courtesy of Sky Bet
In reality, the level of competition for Furys comeback could be lower than expected by the bookies, especially if Eddie Hearns opinion is anything to go by.
Joshuas promoter told iFL on the prospect of signing Fury: I was approached by his lawyer and his team. We had different ideas about the opponents and the level of the opponents he was going to come back to.
I know he needs to come back with a couple of easy fights, but theres easy fights and then theres fights that Im just going to get absolutely crucified for.
AdvertisementAdvertisement
Fury chose to sign with Frank Warren instead of Hearns Matchroom Sports, and we can expect a fight announcement from Warren in the coming days.
MORE: Tyson Fury TERMINATES interview and walks off after questions about his past
MORE: Tyson Fury insists he would be happy if he never won another fight
AdvertisementAdvertisement
