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Opportunity knocks for Bellew as Fury withdraws with injury

British boxer Hughie Fury has pulled out of his WBO heavyweight world title fight with Joseph Par...



Opportunity knocks for Bellew...
Golf

Opportunity knocks for Bellew as Fury withdraws with injury

British boxer Hughie Fury has pulled out of his WBO heavyweight world title fight with Joseph Parker.

The pair were due to meet in Auckland in New Zealand next month, but Fury - the cousin of former champion Tyson - has withdrawn due to injury.

Parker now has the option of rearranging the defence of his belt against a different opponent.

The news comes just seven weeks after Tony Bellew secured one of the year's biggest boxing upsets with his 11th round stoppage of former heavyweight world champion, David Haye.

Speaking after the fight, promoter Eddie Hearn said that bout "could have been a final eliminator for the world heavyweight title" and he was confident he could bring either Parker or WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder to the UK.

"He's just beaten one of the best heavyweights in the world, so do you want to go back down to cruiserweight or fight Deontay Wilder and Joseph Parker?

"I think we could bring Wilder or Parker to the UK. This fight has done great numbers and they aren't going to get that money anywhere else."

He added: "As far as I'm concerned he's earned his shot."

Bellew continues to recover from a hand injury sustained during last month's bout.

"I hopefully will avoid an operation, I have already had one done," Bellew told Sky Sports.

"Major surgery on the left hand, done. I probably would have needed the same thing done on the right hand, which would have meant five months out and I just didn't want that."

 

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