Tyson Fury has responded to Wayne Rooney’s plea for King Charles to give the heavyweight boxer a knighthood – and even offered the Manchester United legend a chance to spar with him ahead of his potential undisputed title fight.
The Gypsy King did a number on his old friend Dereck Chisora at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night, defeating him after 10 rounds in front of 60,000 fans.
After watching Fury retain his WBC belt, Rooney told talkSPORT: ‘I think he’s the best we’ve seen in a long time, and I don’t think anyone will beat him.
‘I think he’s an absolute legend for what he’s done for boxing. He’s entertaining, his skills are incredible, his mentality is incredible.
‘If I’m being honest, I probably think he should be knighted because he hasn’t been afraid to go abroad, he’s won titles abroad, defended them abroad and he epitomises everything that boxing is.’
Since then, the Gypsy King has responded to Rooney’s comments and joked that he needs to spar against someone smaller ahead of his potential fight with Oleksandr Usyk.
‘Wayne Rooney is a proper legend, and I grew up watching him as a youngster for England and [Manchester] United,’ he said.
‘So, that’s [an] amazing, amazing speech from him. ‘He’s a massive boxing fan, he comes from a boxing family as well.
‘So, hopefully, we can have a little spar in the future sometime. I do need someone smaller to prepare for Usyk. Wayne, if you’re listening, get on the blower, son!’
Fury and Usyk are expected to face off in 2023 to crown boxing heavyweight division’s first undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis.
Usyk, who’s record stands at 20 wins and zero losses, with 13 of these fights being knockouts, is listed as 6ft 3ins and typically weights around 220 lbs for his bouts.
The Ukrainian currently holds the WBA, WBO, IBF and The Ring magazine belts while Fury holds the WBC title.
Talks for Fury vs Usyk have begun, with reports stating the fight may be held in March or April next year- although the Gypsy King’s revelation that he will have to undergo elbow surgery following his bout with Chisora could delay the highly-anticipated fight between the two heavyweights.
But Usyk’s manager has even claimed that the fight could happen as soon as February with talks ‘almost done’.
