Tyson Fury hasn't stepped into the ring since December 2022 but his streak without a fight may be coming to an end soon.
The WBC champion has previously teased fans over who his next opponent will be but it looks as though it has been confirmed...but not the way the Gypsy King would have liked.
A bumper undisputed fight with Oleksandr Usyk had been given the go ahead but now looks in serious jeopardy after collapsing in April, with talks additionally leading down a dead end for a Saudi Arabia clash in December too.
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Fury's next fight could lead him away from a traditional boxing path with the likes of Zhilei Zhang, Joe Joyce and even UFC heavyweight Jon Jones have all been touted as potential next opponents. However, it looks as though none of them will be the heavyweight's next fight.
Fury's promoter Frank Warren did not reveal a name but has insisted the fight will transcend the sport as we know it.
"I'm hoping we'll have an announcement in the next week or so," he told talkSPORT.
"We've pretty much done what we want to be doing, but we're not in a position to make the announcement. His fight's done, we can't hang around.
"It'll be a bit of a game-changer in a couple of weeks' time. It'll be a massive game-changer, and it's going to be interesting to see the fallout from it."
It seems as though, however, that rival promoter Eddie Hearn knows who Fury will be fighting next with an official announcement still yet to be made.
After watching Dalton Smith pick up a dominant win over Sam Maxwell last night, Hearn addressed media and has claimed Fury will now take on ex-UFC heavyweight Francis Ngannou.
He said in an interview with Boxing Social when asked if it was Fury v Ngannou next: "Yes, I believe so, this is what I've heard.
"It will be an exhibition apparently, no knockdowns or anything. I don't know, I'm only telling you what I've heard.
"Who knows what's what, but I think that is apparently what is going to be the next fight. Disappointing, but it is what it is.
"It's a big event, but I wanted to see him fight Oleksandr Usyk. It'd be nice to get an undisputed champion.
"But Tyson's in charge of his own career, and I'm sure he's going to make a load of money, good luck to him."
Topics: Tyson Fury, Boxing, Eddie Hearn
Dan Hargraves