TYSON FURY admits his long layoff ahead of his undisputed heavyweight title fight with Anthony Joshua is far from ‘ideal’.
The Gypsy King hasn’t set foot in the ring since his emphatic dethroning of former WBC king Deontay Wilder last February.
And ahead of his blockbuster showdown with Joshua, which is slated to take place in the summer, Fury admits his inactivity could come back to haunt him.
The 32-year-old told ESPN: “I should have boxed, because I’ve been so inactive.
“By the time I fight again, looking at maybe June if this Joshua fight happens, that will be a year and six months out of the ring, which is not ideal preparation for any super-fight.”
Fury’s long-awaited Battle of Britain with Joshua has yet to be finalised, although the fighters’ respective teams are confident an agreement will soon be reached.
But despite a two-fight deal being agreed last year, Fury claims there has been no further progress in making the biggest fight in the history of British boxing.
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The former unified heavyweight champion said: “They’ve had a full year to try and make this fight happen. It is what it is.
“We’re no further forward today than we were a year ago.
“The way it is at the moment [with COVID-19], I don’t think it has got much to do with the fighters.
“It’s to do with the venue, date, place, site fees. It’s to do with everything but the fight itself.”
Fury is itching to compete this year, so much so he’s willing to fight all comers.
He said: “If that fight [against Joshua] doesn’t happen this summer, it’s got to happen sooner or later.
“But Top Rank has to give me two fights this year. I will fight two times on ESPN. I don’t care who it is.
“If it’s not Joshua, we’re looking to fight in April or early May, and the end of the year.
“If it is Joshua, then June and the end of the year. Bang, bang. So, 2021 is looking bright.”
SunSport understands Fury’s multi-million-pound dust-up with Joshua is set to be announced at the start of March.
A non-disclosure agreement is preventing both parties from revealing key details about the ongoing negotiations.
It’s understood Saudi Arabia are the frontrunners to land the fight, although Qatar, the USA, Dubai, Singapore and China have all expressed an interest in staging the bout.
