Tyson Fury to face Italy's Francesco Pianeta in Belfast in August

Sport360 staff 18:24 12/07/2018
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  • Tyson Fury could fight Joshua next, but fears it could never happen.

    Tyson Fury will take on Francesco Pianeta in the second fight of his comeback.

    The 29-year-old will face the Italian at Windsor Park in Belfast on August 18.

    Fury returned to the ring after more than two years out with victory over Sefer Seferi in June, although there were elements of farce about that fight as his opponent was pulled out of the contest after four rounds.

    Fury gurned and showboated his way through much of the contest and earned a ticking-off from referee Phil Edwards in a fight the 6ft 9ins boxer could have ended at any point, should be have been inclined to, before Seferi’s unsatisfactory withdrawal.

    Promoter Frank Warren insists it will be a more serious Fury who climbs into the ring later in the summer.

    “The ideal for us in Belfast would be to get some worthwhile rounds into Tyson,” he wrote on frankwarren.com.

    “I don’t believe we will have him playing up to the crowd on this occasion because he will need to be more business-like in a riskier fight and also because of his desire to start putting a marker down once again in the heavyweight division.

    Tyson Fury’s comeback appearance in June was somewhat farcical.  “Tyson informs me that he has shifted a bit more weight since his first return and this fight is about continuing to nudge him towards optimum fitness, which is where he needs to be before he is really stepped up.”

    Fury’s comeback in Manchester last month was his first appearance since wresting the world heavyweight title from Wladimir Klitschko more than two and a half years ago.

    He cited mental health problems for falling out of love with the sport but was sidelined further after subsequently testing positive for a banned steroid in February 2015.

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