• Heavyweight

Fury opens talks with Klitschko over UK summer bout

Tyson Fury goes in search of his 24th professional victory against Romania's Christian Hammer on Saturday © Getty Images

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Negotiations for a summer showdown between reigning heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko and British challenger Tyson Fury are already underway, just days before Fury's upcoming bout with Christian Hammer.

Promoter Frank Warren held talks with American TV networks in New York last week about the prospect of Fury fighting Klitschko - the reigning WBA, IBF and WBO champion - or new WBC champion Deontay Wilder, the American who has stopped 32 of his 33 opponents.

Fury, unbeaten in 23 fights to date, is mandatory challenger for Klitschko's WBO title, but must see off his Germany-based Romanian opponent at The O2 in London on Saturday to defend his status.

Klitschko, 38, must also defend his titles against American Bryant Jennings in New York on April 25 - as he is expected to do - before a possible clash with Fury can happen.

Ken Hershman, president of HBO who screens Klitschko's fights in the US, will be ringside to watch Fury this weekend before talks resume with Warren about the possibility of a fight this summer. Warren wants to put it on at either Wembley or the Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal.

Warren last week met representatives from both Klitschko and Wilder camps, but Klitschko is unlikely to agree to any date with Fury before his fight on April 25.

"If Tyson comes through the Hammer fight we have Deontay Wilder's camp and the Klitschko camp wanting the fight," said Warren. "More importantly, you've got Showtime, who are involved with Wilder, and HBO, who are involved in Klitschko, saying Fury is the fight they want because they know it's going to be a cracking fight.

"HBO I think are forcing the Klitschkos into the fight. I am confident the fight is going to be made because the WBO have ordered it.

"Klitschko will either have to vacate or fight, but the conversations we've had were positive and I'm confident we will get it over the line."

Despite Warren's optimism, 26-year-old Fury remains sceptical that Klitschko will agree to fight him.

"My main concern right now, though, is Christian Hammer and how I deliver on the 28th," said Fury. "I want a spectacular performance. I won't be happy with anything less.

"I'm mandatory for Wladimir and that is the fight I've been working towards for the past few years. But, on the other hand, I won't be saying no to a WBC title shot against Wilder."

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