There seems to be little doubting the fact that Tyson Fury will be back in the ring very soon. The WBC world heavyweight champion is widely expected to make his comeback in London on December 5. This will mark the first time that Fury has fought in the UK since August 2018. The 32-year old’s last four bouts were all fought in the USA.
For a long time it looked like Fury would be facing Deontay Wilder. This would have been the third time that these two boxers had fought, but these plans appear to have fallen through. Boxing fans will be disappointed that they won’t get to see Fury consolidating on his WBC title winning bout over Wider last February.
It would have been a fight that would have received plenty of attention at the best online gambling sites, particularly as the pair produced a gripping draw in 2018. Much of 2020 has been spent trying to get another rematch between Fury and Wilder. The original plan was for the fight to take place in July, before it was moved back to October. This was then followed up by a move to December 19. When fight organisers attempted to move the rematch back into 2021, it became too much for Fury who elected to find another opponent.
So who is looking most likely to take on the Gypsy King? Early indications are that it could be the German boxer Agit Kabayel who could be making an appearance in London. At just 6’3″ inches Kabayel may look a good head shorter than Fury, but the German fighter has put in some heavy-handed performances that have included a handsome victory over Derek Chisora.
Kabayel has the punching power necessary to provide a decent bout, and his relative youth should give Fury a real challenge ahead of what’s expected to be the heavyweight championship fight in spring 2021.
However, many people are speculating that the Nigerian boxer Efe Ajagba could be a real contender. The star has already got his name in the record-books when he claimed a victory in just one second over Curtis Harper. However this victory was probably more a result of Harper’s bitterness over a pay dispute rather than Ajagba’s skill.
Despite this, it’s clear that the Nigerian could be a good fit for December’s fight. Ajagba has claimed an impressive record of 11 knockouts in 14 bouts. While none of these KOs were over household names, Ajagba’s record-breaking win could be enough to draw sufficient interest.
Other names that have been thrown into the ring include the Canadian star Simon Kean. The boxer has 16 KOs in 17 wins and could be a good option for Fury. Then there’s the likes of Demsey McKean from Australia who has 16 straight wins. There’s some debate about whether either of these two have the sufficient experience for a boxer of Fury’s calibre.
But at least the duo have the stature necessary to take on Fury, which is more than can be said for Michael Hunter. The American has been the subject of repeated rumours that he would be taking on Fury, but at barely 6’0″ tall, it would make for a seriously unbalanced bout.
But whatever happens, it’s sure to be a bruising month. This is because December will also see Joshua King involved in a major bout on 12 December. King’s fight against Kubrat Pulev will take place at the O2 Arena in London, and it will see King defending his IBF, WBA and WBO world heavyweight titles.
