Tyson Fury claims he wants a larger opponent next but the fan interest might just be too much for him to turn down a fight with Tony Bellew.
Fury and Bellew have gone back and forth for months, ever since it became clear that the former was taking his comeback very seriously after almost three years out of action.
The undefeated heavyweight made his long-awaited return to the ring on Saturday night and forced Sefer Seferi to retire on his stool after four rounds in Manchester.
Promoter Frank Warren has revealed that the plan is to continue improving the calibre of opposition for Fury before he can consider himself a world title contender.
And Bellew certainly fits the bill for a bout before the end of the year if Fury's camp wants an established name to bridge the gap between shaking off ring rust and challenging for championships again.
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"Tony Bellew? Absolutely, we’d go for that before the end of the year. Not a problem," Warren said on BT Sport at the weekend.
Bellew has made no secret of his desire to share the ring with 'The Gypsy King' and while he, like Seferi, would find himself at a considerable size disadvantage, the former WBC cruiserweight champion fancies his chances.
"I just don’t believe he could beat me," Bellew told
talkSPORT.
"The only thing he has over me is size and reach, and I can combat those things.
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"I’m quicker than him, I hit harder than him, I’ve got faster feet than him.
"Let’s not forget, for a heavyweight, Tyson Fury is very fast. He’s got good feet for a heavyweight.
"But I’m not a heavyweight, I’ m a cruiserweight. I’m much faster, I pose a lot more of a threat.
"I hit much harder than Steve Cunningham and he put a prime and in shape Tyson Fury flat on his back."
Bellew has only competed twice at heavyweight and those fights resulted in a pair of victories over fierce rival David Haye.
Fury, whose next outing takes place on August 18 at Windsor Park in Belfast, would represent a significant step-up in competition for 'Bomber' but the Scouser has never been one to back down from a challenge.
"I’d do it, mate. I really would. The ball is in his court," he added.
"If they want to make the fight happen and he speaks to his management, we can make it happen.
"I’m happy to do it, I think it would fill a football stadium and I think the press conference alone would get millions of views.
"I’m happy to do it."
