Former world heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury returns to the ring on Saturday night with plenty riding on the result of his showdown with Francesco Pianeta in Belfast.
US champion Deontay Wilder has flown into the UK to watch the fight and, provided Fury wins, is expected to confirm his clash with the Gypsy King later this year.
In the build-up to the fight Fury was typically forthright in his opinions, making it clear that he expected to beat Pianeta and then Wilder, claiming that the American, despite being WBC champion, has “not really fought anybody”.
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And at the weigh-in ahead of the fight, Fury’s father, John, had to be restrained from confronting Wilder. “He initially shook hands with the fighter but then started shouting at Wilder,” reports the Daily Mirror.
“He was held back by his son's trainer Ben Davison before Fury and Pianeta stepped on the scales.”
Getting Fury back into the big time has been quite an achievement by promotor Frank Warren who has “seized the opportunity to catapult former world champion Fury back into the limelight after the breakdown of a unification fight between Wilder and Anthony Joshua”, says the Evening Standard.
“Fury has had only one fight since his return from a two-and-half year lay-off, when he was forced to relinquish his world titles while he battled depression, weight and drugs problems.”
According to The Guardian, Fury lost something in the region of ten stones before his comeback fight against Sefer Seferi in June. He won that fight in four rounds.
He weighed in for Saturday’s fight at 18st 6lbs.
Where and when is the fight?
Saturday, 18 August at Windsor Park in Belfast
What time is the Fury fight?
The main event of the evening is Carl Frampton’s fight with Luke Jackson, and Fury vs Pianeta will be second on the bill. That means the two heavyweights are likely to take to the ring at around 8.50pm.
How can I watch on TV?
The fight will be shown on BT Sport 1.
What are the odds?
Fury is the overwhelming favourite at 66-1 on. Italian Pianeta has only lost four times in his career and is available at a generous 25-1.
