TYSON FURY has a five-man shortlist for his December 5 UK homecoming fight.
The WBC champ has walked away from his trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder, after growing tired of repeated COVID and injury-related postponements.
The Gypsy King has demanded a fight before 2021 and British promoter Frank Warren must now find him a dance partner on just eight week’s notice.
With Fury hopeful of fighting Anthony Joshua in a mega-money undisputed 2021, decider Fury will not want to risk a shock defeat or a serious cut, like the 47-stitch gash he suffered against Otto Wallin.
But US promoter Bob Arum has named a heavy-handed list of candidates who could cause the undefeated champion problems.
German former European champ Agit Kabayel has arguably the best record at 20-0, while Michael Hunter is the much-avoided former cruiserweight and Efe Ajagba is a raw Nigerian powerhouse.
Colombian former kickboxer Oscar Rivas fancies the challenge, especially after his loss in to Dillian Whyte last year and former champ Charles Martin is an outside bet.
Arum has his personal preferences for keeping the money in-house, the veteran matchmaker said.
He told iFL TV: “Five guys who are possible. There’s Efe, the African is there.
“There’s Agit, Rivas is there and there are two others that are there.
“We’ll have to pick out, see who’s available and pick it out.
“I mean, Rivas and Efe are Top rank fighters, and I’m sure we could arrange for them to be available.”
Hunter is the excellent technician who would have had a win over Alexander Povetkin in December, had the Russian judge not given his patriot the nod to leave it a split-draw.
Fury also beat Hunter in the amateurs but the American has always insisted he was robbed on the UK show and would love a shot at revenge.
Martin is the former IBF king Anthony Joshua beat for his first world title in 2016 but he is managed by rival promoters PBC, making a late-notice deal unlikely.
Kabayel’s most high-profile win was the 2017 shock decision over Derek Chisora but the 28-year-old has failed to kick on from that upset and notched just three more wins in Germany.
