Tyson Fury only interested in 'dangerous' Mariusz Wach, not Anthony Joshua
Tyson Fury is expected to set up a long awaited date with Anthony Joshua on Friday with a win over Mariusz Wach in Thailand.
The contest – which is low key by Fury's standards – will take place at the Max Muaythai Stadium in Pattaya. It's a small venue that only holds 1,500 fans and normally plays host to amateur muay thai events, not former heavyweight champions of the world. Fury has insisted that he will not be taking a penny for the contest and all proceeds will be donated to the Father Ray Foundation, a charity that supports underprivileged children across Thailand.
The bout is intended to serve as a warm-up for Fury’s mega-fight against longtime rival Joshua later this year. Joshua, too, is expected to pick up victory this weekend when he takes on Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia on Saturday. Both are expected to come through relatively unscathed.
Wach, now 39-13 (20 KOs) and 46 years old, has not been anywhere near his best for some time, and Prenga, though 20-1 (20 KOs), is yet to face anyone of note.
However, Fury believes Wach – a loser in seven of his last 10 bouts – is more than capable of scuppering plans to face Joshua.
“Listen, this fight is a dangerous fight,” said Fury at Wednesday’s press conference. “Mariusz is the same size as me, same weight as me. He's had the same amount of fights, if not more than me. He's been in there with the most elite level champions out of two generations, two eras. Let me tell you, Mariusz Wach would put his fist through Joshua's opponent, whoever he is, Mr. Pringles [Kristian Prenga]. This man would knock him spark out, he's a real fighting man.”
Wach did not offer up much belief in himself when asked if he was coming to put an end to the Fury-Joshua talks.
“I’m here to take Tyson hard rounds,” said Wach through a translator. “Friday night is the most important in my career, so I will try to win.”
Despite constant talk of a contest with Joshua, Fury insisted it is not on his mind heading into Friday night.
“We're not interested in other people,” he said. “This is my show and I'm not interested in what's going on elsewhere with Joshua or Wilder or Usyk or anybody. This is about me and Mariusz, not about anybody else. What happens beyond Friday is none of my concern. No interest. What will be, will be, and what won't, won't. That's all I can say on that. And if it's to happen [fight with Joshua], God willing it does, great. But if it doesn't, also good.”
There has been questions over why Friday’s contest is taking place in a small venue out in Thailand, when Fury was first reportedly set to fight on August 1 in Dublin.
“Which other world champion on my level, high level athlete on earth would do a performance in a 1,500 seater in Patia?” Fury asked. “Do you think David Beckham would play a professional football match here or someone famous like that? No way. They're not just going to do it, because a lot of these big celebrities and big stars, sports stars, they think they're bigger than they actually are. Where I just think I'm the same old G as I've always been. A big fat fornicator in the shower and I don't think I'm bigger than I am.
“I could be at Wembley Stadium selling out 100,000 or Tottenham selling out 70,000 or [here in Thailand] selling 1,500 tickets. Does it matter? We're still going to go in there and have a good fight, me and Mariusz. So yeah, very happy to be here.”
Tyson Fury - 265 lbs
Mariusz Wach - 291.4 lbs
