Tyson Fury, the heavyweight boxer known for taking on tough challenges, has named two fighters he won't step into the ring with. In a surprising turn, Fury admitted there are opponents he'd rather avoid.
Fury's reputation for accepting difficult fights is well-established. He famously took on Deontay Wilder in December 2018 after a long break from boxing. That fight ended in a draw, with Fury surviving a late knockdown. He went on to stop Wilder twice in their rematches.
Recently, Fury faced Oleksandr Usyk in a bid for the undisputed heavyweight title. The fight didn't go his way, marking Fury's first professional loss. Now, he's gearing up for a rematch with Usyk in December, with three of the four major world titles on the line.
In an interview with Jai McAllister: BOXING + MMA, Fury talked about potential opponents. When asked about fighting Joseph Parker, Fury's response was clear:
"Definitely not, no. I'd rather give him the belt than fight him for it. We're too close for that, fighting. There are plenty of heavyweights out there. I don't want to get beat up, sorry."
Parker, a long-time friend of Fury's, shares the same coach, Andy Lee. He's been on a hot streak lately, beating both Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang.
The second fighter Fury won't face is Moses Itauma. Itauma helped Fury prepare for his first fight with Usyk. With a record of 10 wins and 8 stoppages, Itauma aims to become the youngest-ever heavyweight champion. He's got less than a year to beat Mike Tyson's record.
When asked about fighting Itauma, Fury didn't mince words:
"No, definitely not! Do you think I'm stupid? No, no no."
Fury's honesty about not wanting to fight these two boxers shows a different side to the usually brash heavyweight. It seems even the toughest fighters have their limits when it comes to facing friends or promising young talent.
