Sport

Tyson Fury looks elsewhere after David Haye’s withdrawal

Heavyweight ‘disgusted’ with Englishman, says promoter Mick Hennessy

Tyson Fury (right) in action against Dereck Chisora in 2011. Photograph: Christopher Lee/Getty Images
Tyson Fury (right) in action against Dereck Chisora in 2011. Photograph: Christopher Lee/Getty Images
Wed Nov 20 2013 - 18:11

Tyson Fury’s promoter Mick Hennessy has confirmed talks have started for a prospective heavyweight clash with unbeaten American Deontay Wilder following David Haye’s withdrawal this week.

But Hennessy said Wilder is just one of a number of options currently being explored and stressed that Fury needs to be given time to get over the disappointment of a second big fight cancellation.

Fury took to Twitter on Wednesday to vent his spleen at the sport, even declaring: “Hi every1 I have officially retired from boxing” - a scenario immediately discounted by his team.

But he is clearly enraged by Haye’s announcement that he faces retirement following shoulder surgery this week - just two months after their first fight was postponed when Haye sustained a cut.

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Hennessy told the Press Association: “Tyson needs time to get used to the situation because all these things - broken toes, cut eyes, shoulder injuries - are like a foreign language to him.

"Tyson doesn't understand what he's being confronted with. He wanted to fight David Haye from the moment he turned professional and he did everything in his power to get him in the ring.

“The biggest shock to Tyson was that Haye ever took the fight in the first place. He’s disgusted and sorry for the fans who have been let down twice, because Tyson is not one who would ever pull out of a fight.”

Hennessy said he still hoped Fury would be fit to return in February, with future developments concerning the Klitschko brothers likely to determine his next opponent, although Wilder remains in pole position.

Wilder has won all 30 of his professional fights inside the distance including consecutive first round wins over Audley Harrison and former WBO champion Sergei Liakhovich earlier this year.

Hennessy added: “We have had talks with Wilder’s people and we are in discussions at the moment but obviously there are a lot of pieces of the jigsaw we need to fit together.

“We are looking at a number of different options but one thing we do know is that Tyson is one of the biggest draws in world boxing at the moment and as soon as he is ready we will look to get him back in the ring.”