Fury injury won’t derail Joshua fight

File: Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

UFC and Zuffa Boxing chief, Dana White, has dismissed rumours that Tyson Fury could pull out of his December 11 fight against Anthony Joshua with an injury, saying he has heard nothing to suggest the bout is in doubt.

The heavyweights meet at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff in front of more than 70,000 fans, a little over a month away.

The speculation began when former heavyweight champion Frank Bruno, said on Fight Your Corner with Tony Bellew that he had heard Fury was carrying an injury.

“I looked at him the other day, and I think someone was talking to me in the gym that he’s got some injury, which may stop him from going into the fight with Anthony Joshua? And having that on your head ain’t nice,” Bruno said.

When the claim was put to White by Sky Sports, he said it was the first he had heard of it. “That’s the first time I heard it. I would certainly like to think that I would know that if it was true,” he said.

“I haven’t even heard the rumour, let alone the fact that it’s true. It’s all a part of the fun as it leads up closer and closer to the fight. But yeah, I hope that one is not true, but I’m pretty sure I would have heard by now.”

Fresh concern followed after Fury posted a video on Friday in which a mark appeared to show on the left side of his face. The 38-year-old, who is training in Miami, recorded the clip to wish his friend and sparring partner, Kevin Lerena, success against Scotland’s Scott Forrest on Saturday night. Reports suggest the mark is a black eye, which would likely not be enough to rule him out.

Bellew dismissed the talk as part of Fury’s usual routine.

“He plays up to the camera, Frank… I do think Tyson Fury is the master of the mind games,” he said.

Fury returned from retirement this year with a points win over Arslanbek Makhmudov in London in April, before stopping Poland’s Mariusz Wach in July.

White also suggested an immediate rematch could follow, whoever wins in Cardiff.

“Anything is possible; if that fight ends up like the Fury Wilder fight, who the hell didn’t want to see that again after it happened? So we will see how this thing plays out, and anything is possible,” he said.