• Heavyweight

Fury: I'm the best fighter on the planet

Tyson Fury says he is going to retire Steve Cunningham on April 20 in New York © PA Photos

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Fury: Haye doesn't want to fight, I'm UK's only hope
  

Tyson Fury has mocked Steve Cunningham, saying he wants to sponsor the soles of his boots when the two meet next month.

The 24-year-old will be taking on Cunningham at Madison Square Garden Theatre in New York on April 20 as he makes his debut on US soil. Fury is never shy in offering an opinion and he is determined to make an impression in their heavyweight clash.

"Are Steve's boots going to be sponsored?" Fury asked during a press conference in New York. "As it's being watched around the world I'd like to put my Twitter account on the bottom of them so I can get more fans.

"I was wondering how much it would cost to sponsor them."

Fury has made positive noises about securing a fight with one of the Klitschko brothers and he is in no doubt he would have the measure of the world champions.

"I'm the best fighter on the planet - including all sizes, because there is not a man born from his mother who can beat Tyson Fury," he said.

"I don't care if he is 7ft or 3ft tall. Steve Cunningham is in big trouble. Come April 20 this guy is getting knocked spark out, guaranteed, 100 per cent. Steve Cunningham, with the whole of Philadelphia behind him, couldn't beat me together.

"There have been a lot of fighters in the world that didn't want to fight Tyson Fury. You've got to give credit where credit is due.

"But this is a heavyweight versus a light-heavyweight. No disrespect to Steve, he is probably the best opponent I have faced because he's a world champion and I've never faced a world champion before.

"But I'm a man on a mission. Steve has got a lot to be thankful for - he's been a world cruiserweight champion two times, but I'm going to retire him."

Cunningham - who has lost three of his last four fights - admits it is not ideal getting into the ring with a "straight up giant", but says he is not scared of fighting the big man.

"He's literally a giant. I'm a fighter, that's what I do. I grew up in Philly - I had the threat of getting shot going to school. We still went to school. There's no fear in me. I fear no man. I fear the almighty God, that's it. I don't fear getting hit. I don't fear losing," Cunningham said.

And in response to Fury's Twitter barb, Cunningham said: "The guys that talk a lot are chumps. That's why I'm not going to talk.

"He [Fury] can talk about sponsorship, Twitter, that ain't going to help him on April 20. The only reason this dude is winning fights is because he's big. Shrink him down to 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, he's garbage."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.