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Fury camp confident of Klitschko fight

Tyson Fury will fight Christian Hammer at London's O2 Arena on February 28 © PA Photos

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Tyson Fury's co-promoter Mick Hennessy expects the Manchester heavyweight to fight Wladimir Klitschko this year.

Despite American Shannon Briggs telling ESPN that he will face world No.1 Klitschko in September after the Ukrainian's next fight on April 25, Hennessy is confident Fury remains front of the queue.

WBA-IBF-WBO world heavyweight champion Klitschko, 38, defends his belts against American Bryant Jennings in New York on April 25 and Hennessy says - providing he wins - Klitschko will then start talks about fighting Fury next.

Fury, 26, is mandatory challenger for Klitschko's WBO belt and also has an interim fight against Germany-based Chrstian Hammer at the O2 Arena on February 28.

Hennessy believes there is even a chance of Klitschko - a world champion for nine years - fighting in the UK for the second time in his professional career following a win over Monte Barrett on the undercard of Lennox Lewis-Frans Botha in 2000.

"I believe the fight against Wladimir will happen this year," Hennessy told ESPN. "Tyson wants it in a big way and Wladimir's team like the idea of the fight because it's the biggest one out there for them.

"It will happen where ever it commercially makes sense and that could mean over here. Team Klitschko are open to coming to the UK if the economics are right.

"[Promoter] Frank Warren touched on it recently when he said it had been talked about Wladimir fighting Tyson over here on April 25 when they were having problems with making the fight with Bryant Jennings. I would like to think it could happen in the summer.

"Tyson is in the WBO mandatory position for Wladimir, so after Klitschko's next fight we will be doing some serious negotiations, otherwise it will end up going to purse bids."

Newly-crowned WBC champion Deontay Wilder called for fights against Fury and Klitschko after winning the fourth version of the world title last month. Wilder and Fury have been swapping tweets talking up a potential clash between them.

But Hennessy believes Wilder will pursue other opponents before he faces either Klitschko or Fury.

"There's always going to be big talk straight after a good win like Deontay Wilder's last month and names get thrown about," Hennessy said.

"He mentioned Tyson and Wladimir but my understanding is that Deontay Wilder will be looking for a sensible defence first time around, rather than a major fight against Tyson or Wladimir."

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