‘Now is the right time’ – Hughie Fury calls out three heavyweight rivals including Anthony Joshua ahead of return fight
HUGHIE FURY says he is ready to fight the likes of Anthony Joshua.
The heavyweight – cousin to ex-champion Tyson – had a hat-trick of return fights in 2024 after three years out the ring amid health issues.
Now names like Zhilei Zhang and Filip Hrgovic join AJ on the list of opponents Fury wants to face.
He told The Ring Magazine: “God’s got a plan and I believe this is the destiny now and I’ve not had the easiest route – with the health issues and all of that I’ve had the hardest route in the world – but I believe now is the right time.
“I’m only one fight away, just get the right fight and I’ll be there.
“I’d like anyone, I’d like all these fights, I’d like the Zhang fight, I’d like the Joshua fight.
“Even Hrgovic, I’d like him. All of these fights, hopefully I’d get.”
Fury, 30, beat Christian Thun, 33, in his last bout in September and returns on Friday night at York Hall against a yet-to be named opponent.
And he said: “I believe people haven’t seen a fraction of my ability and I’m looking forward to this year to showing it.
“There’s a lot different. Even with the last fight, it was just getting the cobwebs off and stuff.
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“Talk’s cheap. I just can’t wait now to put it all in action. I’ve got so many different styles that people I haven’t seen and I’m looking forward now to put it all into practice.”
Fury challenged for the WBO title in 2017 but lost a controversial decision to Joseph Parker in Manchester.
But he has six wins on the spin now and believes he is in line for big fights after signing a deal with Izzy Asif’s GBM Sports.
Fury said: “Izzy’s a good friend of my dad’s as well so he’s promised us. I believe he’ll keep to his word and we’ll get these big fights in.
“Yeah, I do believe in God’s got a destiny and I believe this is my right time now.”