FURY BACK ON THE HEAVYWEIGHT MAP

By Frank Warren

THE HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION should now be put on notice because the lineal champion will be back on June 9 and will soon be looking to pick back up where he left off.

I am thrilled that Tyson Fury has entrusted us with the responsibility of recharging his career and to steer him back to where he once emphatically belonged.

Were it not for his exploits in Dusseldorf on November 28, 2015, the now thriving and fascinating heavyweight scene might have remained stagnant, but Tyson’s comprehensive schooling of the long-standing champion Wladimir Klitschko opened all sorts of doors from which others have ultimately benefitted.

Unfortunately well documented circumstances conspired against Tyson himself and other contenders were able to seize their opportunities – and good luck to them.

But can Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder really consider themselves the kings of the division until they have shared a ring with the man who made it all possible in the first place? The undefeated – 25-0 – lineal champion who never lost his belts in the ring.

Now Tyson is back, in fantastic shape and full of beans, ready to take the first step on the road back towards world domination once again.

I am certain the boxing public – who he never lost the affection of – will get behind him in force and support his journey – starting at the Manchester Arena on June 9.

Tyson has put in the hard yards in shifting his excess poundage over the last few months, working tirelessly to get back down to his fighting weight.

We now need to be sensible and calculating in plotting an ideal route for him to re-establish himself. It will not be a case of him jumping straight in at the deep end.

He needs comeback fights in order to shake off the ring rust after such a lengthy absence and I am sure the fans will once again enjoy the ride back to the top. Tyson isn’t in this for a quick fix, he wants to be back for the long haul and write his name in the heavyweight history books for a second time.

I know much of the rhetoric surrounding his return will centre on when he will be ready to fight Joshua, but the fact is he needs to be one hundred per cent match fit and ring sharp before thoughts turn to such a showdown.

Make no mistake, it is a fight he craves and he could fight Joshua tomorrow and give him a good fight. However, he needs to be ready for a world title shot and when he is in optimum condition we will really be in business.

The goal is to fight both Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder, but first and foremost he needs fights to get there.

To get to this point it will take him at least three or four fights.

Terry Flanagan – who co-headlines at the Manchester Arena – is ready right now for world title combat and he will bid to become a two-weight world champion against the American Maurice Hooker.

I am delighted that Terry’s attempt at making history by becoming the first English to win world titles at both lightweight and super lightweight will now take place in his home city and also that a superb night of action will be topped by a world title clash.