BoxRec

Steve Lillis: Tyson Fury has pulled out of purse bids to face British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion David Price

07 Feb 2013
Steve Lillis
Tyson Fury has pulled out of purse bids to face British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion David Price, ending hopes of Britain's biggest domestic fight taking place this year.



The British Boxing Board of Control ordered the pair to meet and bids were due to be opened next Wednesday.

But Fury's promoter Mick Hennessy has notified the BBB of C that Fury will not be taking the mandated contest against the 6ft 8in Liverpool man.

Fury's trainer Peter Fury said: "We wish David Price all the best, but we are going in an entirely different direction.

"We are going to conquer United States and it looks like we will fight Steve Cunningham next, then the winner of Chris Arreola v Bermane Stiverne or Jonathan Banks.

"The aim right now is to get to the number one ranking and then win the world heavyweight title."

Fury is lining up Cunningham when he makes his Stateside debut in New York on April 20, possibly at Madison Square Garden's theatre venue.

Price's camp were disappointed at Fury's pull-out, but insisted it will not affect preparations ahead of his 12 rounder against former world title challenger Tony Thompson in Liverpool on February 23 - a fight being shown live on allegedly.

His promoter Frank Maloney had planned a big bid and wanted to stage the fight in June at  Anfield or a London football ground.

He said: "It is another great fight that the British public are going to miss out on and that is a shame.

"It is a fight boxing needs, but Hennessy has informed the Board that they are going another route.

"David is remaining focused in Thompson and we still hope that eventually he and Tyson will meet in a major contest."

It is the second time that Fury has withdrawn from a fight against Price.

The fight was initially made last year when he was British champion, but pulled out minutes before purses bids were due.

I know it's a few days old !
Any thoughts ?

I'm more surprised that there was any doubt that this call for purse bids would be futile. Neither promotional party wants to risk losing what could become a huge cash cow at the dawning of a post-klitschko era. At least this time Fury has been consistent in his public utterances and it seems the US route will form the next part of the journey. The fight will happen, but it looks as though it will be with a World Title at stake rather than the Lonsdale.

im a bit confused how can the board order the fight when fury relinquished his lonsdale belt. it was already common knowledge that fury was fighting cunningham.

Finn wrote:im a bit confused how can the board order the fight when fury relinquished his lonsdale belt. it was already common knowledge that fury was fighting cunningham.

Who has Fury beat domestically to make himself a mandatory?

This is another one of those fights that will end up losing a lot of steam, because one of them will get beaten before they make the fight. Boxing promoters never learn.

Why did the board make him the mandatory, when he probably didn't want the shot?

Can't they ask a fighter, their manager or promoter before making these decisions?

ArtOfWar wrote:This is another one of those fights that will end up losing a lot of steam, because one of them will get beaten before they make the fight. Boxing promoters never learn.

I dont see it as a mistake mate, Fury is on course for america and a fight with Price presents little reward vs the risk involved at this stage. A win or two stateside and he'll be in prime position for a crack at one of the K's, or ride it out till they've gone.

Yes beating Price would increase his rep for us uk fans, and it'd be a great fight to see. But in the bigger picture I imagine it's small fry when the big Nyc/Vegas dollars, celebrity, world title shots, etc are nearly in Fury's reach.

earsjohn wrote:I'm more surprised that there was any doubt that this call for purse bids would be futile. Neither promotional party wants to risk losing what could become a huge cash cow at the dawning of a post-klitschko era. At least this time Fury has been consistent in his public utterances and it seems the US route will form the next part of the journey. The fight will happen, but it looks as though it will be with a World Title at stake rather than the Lonsdale.

Wrong. Maloney and Price are quite prepared to fight Fury right now.

Mensa07 wrote:

ArtOfWar wrote:This is another one of those fights that will end up losing a lot of steam, because one of them will get beaten before they make the fight. Boxing promoters never learn.

I dont see it as a mistake mate, Fury is on course for america and a fight with Price presents little reward vs the risk involved at this stage. A win or two stateside and he'll be in prime position for a crack at one of the K's, or ride it out till they've gone.

Yes beating Price would increase his rep for us uk fans, and it'd be a great fight to see. But in the bigger picture I imagine it's small fry when the big Nyc/Vegas dollars, celebrity, world title shots, etc are nearly in Fury's reach.

But you're talking as if heavyweight is still the 'draw' division or that the US is sure to yield marvellous paydays and exposure. Neither is necessarily true at all, and the Klits will be gone before they have a chance to wreck Fury. This 'hold out for a better time' is exactly what's ruining heavyweight boxing, too many 'contenders' sitting around waiting for a call from the K's instead of fighting each other.

I have always believed Fury was ducking Price. This latest news suggests that Price was willing to take the fight, like the first time.

ArtOfWar wrote:This is another one of those fights that will end up losing a lot of steam, because one of them will get beaten before they make the fight. Boxing promoters never learn.

Completely agreed. This sh1t is what turns me off from boxing.

Mensa07 wrote:

ArtOfWar wrote:This is another one of those fights that will end up losing a lot of steam, because one of them will get beaten before they make the fight. Boxing promoters never learn.

I dont see it as a mistake mate, Fury is on course for america and a fight with Price presents little reward vs the risk involved at this stage. A win or two stateside and he'll be in prime position for a crack at one of the K's, or ride it out till they've gone.

Yes beating Price would increase his rep for us uk fans, and it'd be a great fight to see. But in the bigger picture I imagine it's small fry when the big Nyc/Vegas dollars, celebrity, world title shots, etc are nearly in Fury's reach.

Little reward?? It will establish the winner as the domestic number 1 - which is a huge achievement. It would also give Fury nationwide credibilty, which he currently doesnt have.

The winner would gain invaluable experience of a big fight and dealing with pressure, which will then set them up for bigger things in the future! Not to mention, Fury will earn a career highest purse fighting Price. And I bet that Fury would earn more fighting Price then he would for fighting one of the Klitchkos as a mandatory.

A Fury-Price fight would give both lads massive national exposure, whilst drumming up huge commercial interest in this country and probably beyond.

There should be no way in the world that you can get a world title shot when you have so clearly side-stepped a genuine and credible domestic rival.

Little reward?? It will establish the winner as the domestic number 1 - which is a huge achievement. It would also give Fury nationwide credibilty, which he currently doesnt have.

'domestic' and 'nationwide'. Personally I believe Fury's already set his sights higher mate.

The winner would gain invaluable experience of a big fight and dealing with pressure, which will then set them up for bigger things in the future!

hmm, that would be near the bottom of the list of rewards I think mate.

Not to mention, Fury will earn a career highest purse fighting Price. And I bet that Fury would earn more fighting Price then he would for fighting one of the Klitchkos as a mandatory.

can't comment, but if he beat's one of the klits, the worlds his oyster and large, repeat paydays await.

A Fury-Price fight would give both lads massive national exposure, whilst drumming up huge commercial interest in this country and probably beyond.

I doubt drumming up interest in british boxing ranks is very high on Fury's priority list.

There should be no way in the world that you can get a world title shot when you have so clearly side-stepped a genuine and credible domestic rival.

in an ideal world bro..

liamlion wrote:

ArtOfWar wrote:This is another one of those fights that will end up losing a lot of steam, because one of them will get beaten before they make the fight. Boxing promoters never learn.

Completely agreed. This sh1t is what turns me off from boxing.

I actually think the promoters have it right. I think if both guys contest World titles in the next year and both lose those World title fights, the fight will make about the same amount of month as if they fought now. If one of them has a World title then it makes more money. And if both somehow have World titles then it becomes probably one of the biggest UK fights in a hell of a long time.

liamlion wrote:Little reward?? It will establish the winner as the domestic number 1 - which is a huge achievement.

What about Haye?

What a rubbish thread.. Fight is pointless people are like broken records

Horse wrote:

liamlion wrote:Little reward?? It will establish the winner as the domestic number 1 - which is a huge achievement.

What about Haye?

Yeah, what about Haye? He's retired and not active.

Mensa07 wrote:Little reward?? It will establish the winner as the domestic number 1 - which is a huge achievement. It would also give Fury nationwide credibilty, which he currently doesnt have.

'domestic' and 'nationwide'. Personally I believe Fury's already set his sights higher mate.

The winner would gain invaluable experience of a big fight and dealing with pressure, which will then set them up for bigger things in the future!

hmm, that would be near the bottom of the list of rewards I think mate.

Not to mention, Fury will earn a career highest purse fighting Price. And I bet that Fury would earn more fighting Price then he would for fighting one of the Klitchkos as a mandatory.

can't comment, but if he beat's one of the klits, the worlds his oyster and large, repeat paydays await.

A Fury-Price fight would give both lads massive national exposure, whilst drumming up huge commercial interest in this country and probably beyond.

I doubt drumming up interest in british boxing ranks is very high on Fury's priority list.

There should be no way in the world that you can get a world title shot when you have so clearly side-stepped a genuine and credible domestic rival.

in an ideal world bro..

With respect mate, it wasnt necessary for you to respond to each of my individual points with speculation as to what Fury's take might be. It's clear as day that Fury is avoiding Price and even if a win over Price guaranteed Fury eternal life he would still be sure to make an excuse not to take the fight...

For a 'fighting man' who fights for 'honour', Fury's behaviour is very sad and disappointing.

liamlion wrote:Yeah, what about Haye? He's retired and not active.

Haye isn't retired and he fought Chisora less than 7 months ago.

Haye is the British No. 1 at heavyweight.

Horse wrote:

liamlion wrote:Yeah, what about Haye? He's retired and not active.

Haye isn't retired and he fought Chisora less than 7 months ago.

Haye is the British No. 1 at heavyweight.

The thing with retirement is that it has nothing to do with when you last worked or fought but when you next plan to, if at all...

So tell me, who is Haye fighting next and when will that be??

liamlion wrote:The thing with retirement is that it has nothing to do with when you last worked or fought but when you next plan to, if at all...

So tell me, who is Haye fighting next and when will that be??

He is trying to get a fight with Vitali later this year.

Horse wrote:

liamlion wrote:The thing with retirement is that it has nothing to do with when you last worked or fought but when you next plan to, if at all...

So tell me, who is Haye fighting next and when will that be??

He is trying to get a fight with Vitali later this year.

And it's a very remote possibility - in fact Haye v Vitali is wishful thinking.

But in the meantime it doesn't mean he's an active fighter. He is effectively retired as a pro fighter and is prepared to step out of retirement for one fight only, against one specific man. He doesn't even hold a British boxing licence.

liamlion wrote:And it's a very remote possibility. But in the meantime it doesn't mean he's an active fighter. He is effectively retired as a pro fighter and is prepared to step out of retirement for one fight only, against one specific man. He doesn't even hold a British boxing licence.

Haye has fought within the last 12 months and he is trying to get a fight, so he is considered an active fighter by most people.

Haye is ranked by The Ring, WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO, BoxRec etc.

Horse wrote:

liamlion wrote:And it's a very remote possibility. But in the meantime it doesn't mean he's an active fighter. He is effectively retired as a pro fighter and is prepared to step out of retirement for one fight only, against one specific man. He doesn't even hold a British boxing licence.

Haye has fought within the last 12 months and he is trying to get a fight, so he is considered an active fighter by most people.

Haye is ranked by The Ring, WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO, BoxRec etc.

You might consider Haye an 'active' fighter but based on the fact that he has fought just twice in the past 2 years and there is no realistic prospect of him fighting again, subject to a fight being made with a 40yrs old fighter suffering with various injuries and with aspirations of having a career in politics... I consider Haye inactive and retired until he announces something to the contrary.

I take no interest in what governing bodies in boxing do in terms of rankings as it is nearly always driven by a desire to financially benefit themselves.

Just out of interest what recent efforts has Haye done to get a fight with Vitali?

I love David Haye, I'm a big fan. But the facts show that he is more inactive than active.

definately avoid Price if you want the no.1 spot