Tyson Fury has shared the ring with some of the most iconic heavyweights of his era; however, another all-British showdown against a fellow favorite fell to the wayside.
Two years before his crowning achievement against heavyweight megastar Wladimir Klitschko, former WBC titleholder Tyson Fury had shared the ring with the likes of Derek Chisora, as well as former cruiserweight talent Steve Cunningham.
Emerging with his unbeaten record in tow against the trio, Fury had been locked in talks to take on another cruiserweight star, who is regarded as one of the best to ply his trade in the division.
In fact, missing out on a chance to share the squared circle with a common foe to Klitschko, Fury went scorched earth on his failed comeback.
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Tyson Fury accused David Haye of being ‘afraid’ after failed matchups
Stunningly, on this day back in 2013, Fury was slated to share the ring with former cruiserweight and heavyweight world champion David Haye, in the first of two scheduled matchups.
And in a matchup which would have rivalled Fury’s failed showdown with fellow compatriot Anthony Joshua, the ex-gold holder failed to ever share the ring with Haye.
Initially seeing the matchup postponed to the following year after Haye suffered a pre-fight cut, Fury was left opponentless once more after a career-threatening shoulder injury scrapped Haye’s return to the ring.
Reacting to Haye’s withdrawal, Fury claimed the Londoner was simply “afraid” to enter the ring against him.
“I’m absolutely furious, but in all honestly, this is exactly what I expected,” Fury said of Haye in 2014. Everyone knows I was very suspicious when he pulled out the first time.
“And this confirms to me that he’s always been afraid of me and never wanted this fight,” Fury explained.
Tyson Fury risks missing Anthony Joshua fight, too
Just as his pair of failed pairings with the above-mentioned Haye, Fury’s latest retirement from the ring — the fifth of his career — puts an overdue clash with Joshua into fierce jeopardy again.
With both ruling the majority of the roost at the heavyweight limits during their prime, Fury and Joshua have been on a collision course for years at this stage.
Potentially lured from another hiatus in his career, Fury has been linked with a possible summer return as soon as next year to finally throw down and settle his grudge with Watford favorite Joshua.