Tyson Fury’s camp prepares for heavyweight champ to relinquish belts

Tyson Fury's uncle and trainer Peter is preparing for his ill nephew to relinquish his belts on a temporary basis.

But he believes that when the world heavyweight champion returns to the ring after he receives treatment for depression, he should be given a chance to return to the top of the tree. Fury has not fought since defeating former heavyweight title-holder Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015, and has twice pushed back proposed rematches with the Ukrainian. And the Manchester-based fighter admitted in a recent Rolling Stone interview that he is receiving professional help after revealing his struggles with depression and drugs.

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'Tyson should be available to fight when he comes back. Put him as a champion in recess. As soon as Tyson is ready and able, hopefully he can fight whoever has the belt and reclaim his title," Peter Fury told Radio 5 Live, as reported by the Daily Mail.

"We're boxing people and we want to see fights and world champions. "Because Tyson is ill, we're happy for the belts to be freed, provided they can put him as champion in recess. "As far as I'm concerned, and my team, that's what we'd be happy with."

The last heavyweight champion in recess was Ruslan Chagaev, while Wladimir Klitschko's brother Vitali also held the dubious honour after a series of injuries delayed his title defence in the mid-2000s.

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Wladimir Klitschko's camp have reportedly been approached over a potential heavyweight title fight with IBF champion Anthony Joshua, and the fight could end up being for more than that if Fury relinquishes his belts. Promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed that both fighters seemingly want the match-up to go ahead, and it is now a matter of getting the right deal for the paid. While nothing has been officially confirmed, any title bout between the pair would most likely take place on November 26 at the Manchester Arena - the venue which was due to welcome Klitschko and Fury this month before the latter was forced to pull out on medical grounds. Catch up with the latest episode of Football Friday Live: