• Heavyweight

Fury-Klitschko will happen, says Frank Warren

ESPN staff
December 1, 2014
Tyson Fury installed himself as the WBO's mandatory world title challenger after beating Dereck Chisora © Getty Images
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Tyson Fury proved he has the potential to beat Wladimir Klitschko and become the first British world heavyweight champion since David Haye after his late-night demolition of Dereck Chisora.

Fury claimed the European heavyweight title for the first time and regained the British belt after Chisora's corner called off a one-sided fight before the 11th round, installing Fury as the WBO's mandatory challenger.

Klitschko, the reigning WBO, WBA and IBF world champion, has been accused of avoiding a showdown with the unbeaten Fury by the 26-year-old himself, who urged the Ukrainian not to vacate his title and duck the fight in the aftermath of his 23rd professional victory.

But Frank Warren, who has a promotional deal with Klitschko, insists Fury will get his world title fight and intends to set a date in the summer of 2015.

"It will happen," Warren told the Telegraph. "The WBO have mandated it will happen. Klitschko's next fight is in March and after that there's 30 days for us to negotiate with him."

Fury dominated the rematch with Chisora, which did not reach the ring at the ExCeL Arena until 12.30am Sunday morning, after switching to southpaw in the second-round, jabbing the former world title contender into submission.

The tactic did not make for the greatest spectacle for those fans who stayed for the night's final fight, but Warren believes Fury's versatility will pose a serious threat to Klitschko, a veteran of 17 consecutive title defences.

"Tyson will bring back a world title for Britain," Warren believes. "He's able to switch his tactics up, he's got that much potential."

Fury's uncle and trainer Peter Fury revealed after the fight that the 26-year-old was almost forced to pull out of the rematch with Chisora with a viral infection.

"There was talk at one time of pulling this fight," Peter Fury admitted. "But we have to be on death's door to pull a fight."

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