• Heavyweight

Fury retracts 'frozen out' comments regarding WBC

Tyson Fury admitted frustration over not fighting since April 2013 was the reason for his outburst © AP

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Tyson Fury has released a statement of apology over comments he made earlier in January regarding the WBC.

The controversial British heavyweight claimed to Buncey's Boxing Podcast he had been "frozen out" by the organisation over a shot at the vacant WBC belt, which was given up by Vitali Klitschko following the Ukrainian's decision to focus on a political career in his native country.

However, Fury retracted his comments on Thursday via a statement on his Team Fury official website, indicating frustration was the main reason behind his outburst.

"I would like to apologise to the WBC for the comments I made and any implications that resulted from them," Fury stated. "Through no fault of my own I have been unable to fight since April with fights in September and February being cancelled.

"The entire situation and inactivity has left me extremely frustrated. The WBC title has meant a lot to me since I was a kid and I always wanted to fight for that green WBC belt and put my name with the greats like Ali, Leonard, Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis who have held it.

"That passion to hold that belt and the frustration of being forced to be inactive for so long sometimes leads me to say things that I shouldn't and I would like to take this opportunity to retract those comments I made.

"I do not believe that the WBC or any of its members acted improperly in the heavyweight division, but having fought a WBC eliminator [which I know and understand was not a final eliminator], and with the title being vacated, I genuinely believe I am the best heavyweight and deserving of a shot."

The Manchester fighter has not fought since April 2013, when he defeated veteran Steve Cunningham on his American bow. An all-British bout with rival David Haye was twice postponed after the 'Hayemaker' suffered a cut to his eye in sparring before he later opted to undergo shoulder surgery.

Undefeated Fury recently signed a promotional deal with BoxNation and is now scheduled to fight on the undercard of Dereck Chisora's European title defence against Andriy Rudenko, before taking on 'Del Boy' in a proposed rematch in June.

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