Tyson Fury clashed with Deontay Wilder ahead of his ring return this weekend. The former world heavyweight champion takes on Francesco Pianeta in Belfast on Saturday.
Fury faces the German-based Italian former world title challenger over 10 rounds at Windsor Park, exclusively live on BT Sport.
But the 30-year-old undefeated fighter, who outpointed Wladimir Klitschko back in November 2015 to become the best in the world at the weight at that time, clashed with the WBC champion Wilder before he weighed in at the city’s Europa Hotel on Friday.
Fury and Wilder are set to fight for the green and gold belt held by the American on a date pre-Christmas, with the showdown expected to be confirmed if Fury is successful against 33-year-old southpaw Pianeta.
The Fury roadshow rolled in shortly after Paddy Barnes weighed in ahead of his WBC flyweight title challenge against Nicaragua’s Cristofer Rosales. The former unified heavyweight champion’s second comeback opponent, Franceso Pianeta, weighed in at 254.7lbs, before Fury himself registered 258lbs –– a full 18lbs lower than for his comeback bout in June against Sefer Seferi.
And that made way for his father, John, to then become the latest man to clash with ‘Bronze Bomber’ Wilder.
The pair’s fight, which Boxing Scene understands will take place in November or December in Las Vegas, is expected to be confirmed shortly after Fury’s fight with Pianeta, on the undercard of Carl Frampton’s WBO interim featherweight title defence against Luke Jackson.
“It’s an excitement and is making the whole thing even better,” Wilder told BBC Sport. “Fury has to do what he needs to tomorrow so that when we come to fight, that’s how much excitement and aggression there will be.”
“I have no words for Joshua, it’s solely on Fury. Joshua is old news, there’s a new kid in town – Tyson Fury.
“He is the true champion on this side of the pond. And now he’s going to face the lone and reigning champion, the WBC champion, the king, the man, the legend, the bronze bomber and it’s going to be a great fight.”
