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Tyson Fury insists his best days are still ahead as the heavyweight superstar prepares to take on Poland’s Mariusz Wach.
The Briton, who turns 38 next month, returns to action on Friday night in Pattaya, Thailand as he sharpens his skills for his long-awaited fight against Anthony Joshua later this year.
Joshua makes his return against Christian Prenga in Saudi Arabia this Saturday before he faces Fury, with the blockbuster fight scheduled for November. Wembley Stadium is a possible venue.
Fury, however, insists he is not paying attention to what AJ is doing and believes he will face a sharp test of his skills against the Pole.
“I’ve paid sweat, tears and blood to be able to do this for over 20 years and I feel truly blessed,” said the ‘Gypsy King’.
“I’m so happy that I’m 38 in a few weeks, I’m still active and still going strong, and I still feel like the best is yet to come.
“Even at 38, I don’t think the world has seen the best Tyson Fury yet.”
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Barry Hearn backs Anthony Joshua to defeat Tyson Fury when the British rivals meet later this year
Fury insists he is not looking at a potential Joshua fight and wants to focus on the task immediately ahead.
He said, this fight is a dangerous fight. “Marius is the same size as me, the same weight as me. He’s fought the same amount if not more than me. He’s right up there with the most elite level champions in two generations, two eras.
“Let me tell you, Marius Watch Joshua’s opponent, whoever it is, is going to be pretty punched by ‘Mr. Pringles.’ This guy is going to knock him out. He’s a real fighting man, but we’re not interested in other people. This is my show, and I’m not interested in what’s going on anywhere else and Wilder or Wilder or anybody about me. It’s not about anybody else.”
Why is the fight not live on TV?
Since launching himself into the boxing stratosphere with a win over Wladimir Klitschko in 2015, every fight involving Fury has attracted worldwide interest.
This fight against the Watch, the significance placed on it is no different, but fight fans won’t be able to watch it live.
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What are the best versions of former world champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua?
Promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren have made it abundantly clear that a loss to either Fury or Joshua in their warm-up bout will pay for their blockbuster fight.
This puts Fury in a difficult position, wanting to get sharper for AJ without risking a fight against a dangerous warm-up opponent.
The Watch represents the safest bet when it comes to meeting all these requirements, but it comes at a cost, with discounts that may not appeal to a wider television audience.
Why Thailand?
Fury has been training for the AJ showdown in Thailand, where the country’s hospitable culture has allowed one of the biggest stars in world sports to go about his business with a relatively low profile.
Fury wants to give back to a community that took him in, not only by hosting watch fights at Pattaya’s Max Muay Thai Stadium, but also by donating ticket profits from the event to local charities. He will also be awarded the inaugural WBC Human Title on fight night.
Staying in Thailand also makes logical sense. Travel demands are virtually non-existent, with no need for long-haul flights to promote or attend fights. Instead, all business is conducted from his training camp, where Fury is in complete control of his environment.
In a sense, the fight behind the door represents a glorified sparring session, with the danger dialed up in terms of the implications of a defeat for his AJ plans. But it remains the lowest-risk option and will be part of his wider long-term preparation for Joshua.
Why Marius Watch?
Marius Wach is Fury’s opponent in Thailand
Wach is a credible and durable opponent who should provide exactly the kind of test Fury is looking for, without significantly risking a potential showdown with Joshua.
Pole’s 52-fight record of 39-13 (20 KOs) includes losses to Tyson Fury’s cousin Hughie Fury, fellow British heavyweights Dillian Whyte and Fraser Clarke, and a point loss to then-heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko in 2012.
The 46-year-old enters the contest having lost three of his last four fights, including a second-round TKO loss to rising British heavyweight Moses Itauma in July 2024.
Fighting Watch may lack the glamor and excitement of a main-event contest, but it ticks a lot of boxes for Fury, who has bigger challenges ahead.
