Sports

Fury Predicts ‘Big 2023’ As ‘Gypsy King’ Celebrates Win Against Chisora

Tyson Fury was at his devastating best late Saturday night (early Sunday in Nigeria) as he defeated David Chisora to retain his WBC version of the title with a 10th-round stoppage.

The Brit on Sunday went on to predict that the year 2023 would be the biggest year of his career.

Fury was dominant in the fight at the 60,000-capacity Tottenham Hotspur Stadium witnessed by Oleksandr Usyk, the holder of the IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles. Usyk had beaten Anglo-Nigerian Anthony Joshua.

The self-styled “Gypsy King” threw a challenge at Usyk and insisted that he is not mindful of where it will hold.

Fury also made a sly dig at Joshua whom he accused of avoiding a fight between them.

“I’m ready and willing to take on Usyk whether it is in Saudi Arabia or back here in the United Kingdom,” Fury told a post-fight press conference.

“Let’s give the fans one champion, one name, one face. He’s not an easy boxer to figure out, he’s slick, a southpaw, moves well, coming in on good form and I look forward to the challenge.

“But for whatever reason if we’re not able to do that, then we will have Joe Joyce at Wembley. I’ll do Usyk and then Joyce at Wembley as well.

A fight between Fury and Joshua was expected in October but differences in contract negotiations saw the possibility evaporate.

“I want to fight real men, real challenges,” said Fury. “Usyk came over here and got in my face. We (Fury and Joshua) live in the same country but have you ever seen AJ do that after a fight?

“In the heavyweight rankings you have number one, me and then the next three – Usyk, Joyce and Deontay Wilder.

“If I fight Usyk, maybe Joyce could fight Wilder – that would be fantastic,” explained Fury, who in three bouts with the American won two and drew one.

Joshua has not a declaration on his 2023 projection.

Izuchukwu Okosi

Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc. In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio. He worked there for 13 years until October 2017. Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch. He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations. Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ). He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line. Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.