Boxing
Hughie Fury Positioned for Heavyweight Glory After Anthony Joshua’s Defeat, Says Promoter Izzy Asif
Hughie Fury is on the brink of heavyweight glory, says promoter Izzy Asif, as Anthony Joshua's defeat reshapes the division and opens new opportunities for rising stars.
Image Credits: Stu Forster/Getty Images
Anthony Joshua’s defeat by Daniel Dubois has created a wealth of opportunities at the top of the heavyweight division.
Now Hughie Fury, whose cousin Tyson is scheduled to face former undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk later this year, is perfectly placed to exploit according to the United Kingdom’s most notable ‘challenger’ promoter.
A Wide-Open Heavyweight Division
Speaking exclusively to SportsBoom earlier this year, Fury outlined his ambition to follow in Tyson’s footsteps by winning a recognised world title after returning to the sport following a lengthy, enforced absence.
With Dubois, who holds the IBF belt, expected to face the winner of December’s return bout between the Gypsy King and Usyk, Izzy Asif - whose company GBM has been instrumental in rejuvenating Fury’s career - thinks the 30-year-old is himself on the cusp of another shot at greatness after facing Joseph Parker for the WBO crown in 2017.
“AJ’s loss - and Daniel’s resounding victory - has blown the heavyweights wide open,” Asif told SportsBoom.com.
There’s going to be a lot of openings coming up for the lads who are towards the top of the division right now and Hughie is definitely one of those.
Hughie Fury
Two Fights Away from a Title Shot
“Personally, I believe he’s possibly only two or three fights - really good fights and wins - away from having another crack himself.”
“He’s going to put himself right in the mix and out of everyone looking to get there, he’s arguably one of the best placed. If not the best placed.”
“AJ is a warrior but he’s not getting any younger and he’s well into his Thirties now,” Asif continued.
“Daniel is a young man, especially at this weight, so he’s going to be around for a while you’d think, and Hughie is still a baby in heavyweight terms too.”
“There’s another big night coming up in Saudi pretty soon, as well all know about, but Hughie can definitely put himself right there back into the mix if he carries on as he is.”
“Unlike a lot of the others, he’s not starting from a low’ish base. He’s already got a wealth of experience for someone so young and that’s definitely going to count in his favour.”
British Rivalries Fuel the Sport
Although AJ has been urged to retire by many boxing experts after Dubois bludgeoned him into submission during five brutal rounds on Riyadh Season’s first London card, a comprehensive win over Thun followed by another emphatic triumph could see Fury become a viable opponent for the Olympic gold medallist and two-time world champion should he choose to continue.
Dubois was upgraded from interim champion when the IBF stripped Usyk of their belt following his points victory over ex-WBC king Tyson when the pair met for the undisputed championship in May. They face one another again just before Christmas, when the WBC, WBA and WBO titles will be on the line.
“With 96,000 people watching AJ and Dubois at the national stadium, the excitement generated, it goes to show there’s nothing like an all-British rivalry,” added Asif, who after striking a broadcasting deal with DAZN was among the luminaries at the event. “Hughie can be a part of one of those rivalries and that’s what we all want to see and be a part of. That’s what we’re trying to create ourselves here.”
“It’s heavyweight boxing and one punch or a couple of big punches - as we’ve just witnessed with Daniel and AJ - can change the whole course of history.”
“Hughie can do it,” Asif added. “No question about it. He’s a natural fighter from a proper fighting family and if his dad Peter didn’t think he was capable of it - there aren’t many, if any, better judges of a fighter than him - then he wouldn’t be back out there full stop.”
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.