Heavyweight destroyer Tyson Fury has promised not to let new opponent Joey Abell derail him from his summer showdown with Dereck Chisora at the Copper Box Arena on Saturday 15th February.
Fury was due to face Gonzalo Omar Basile but the Argentine has withdrawn because of a lung infection, instead he will face dynamite-fisted America Abell over ten rounds on the card headlined by Chisora’s WBO/WBA International title defence against Kevin Johnson, live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Ch. 437/Virgin Ch. 546).
If Chisora and Fury come through their respective fights then it will set up the blockbuster rematch between the two rival heavyweights which could also be a final eliminator for the WBO World title for the right to fight long-reining ruler Wladimir Klitschko.
Hard-hitting Abell, from Minnesota, has halted 28 opponents out of the 29 wins on his 35-fight career record. The 6ft 4in southpaw gave IBF number one ranked challenger Kubrat Pulev some early problems in their IBF International title fight in December before being stopped in the fifth round.
Wilmslow puncher Fury, who’s stopped 15 out of 21 opponents early, is looking forward to getting back in the ring after almost a year since his thrilling shoot-out against Steve Cunningham in his American debut.
“Abell is big and he can punch. Just what I want on my comeback,” Said Fury
“One thing I do respect about him is his power. He’s got a great knockout record and in the heavyweights it only takes one shot to turn things around,”
“He’ll have confidence in seeing that I was floored by Cunningham and he’ll want to have a good go, he likes to get things done early with a lot of knockouts coming in the first few rounds. Who knows? He could land one on me. This is his big chance to make a name and upset the future of the heavyweight division,”
“I love these American opponents they have all the talk, but I hope and pray that he does bring it on and comes at me swinging away because it will be one hell of a tear up and there’s one thing I don’t come off second best on and that’s a fight,”
“I’m in perfect shape though and even though Abell is a late substitute there’s no way he’ll knock me off course for my summer rendezvous with Mr. Chisora who’s got his own Yank to deal with in Johnson. I’ll do my job and if he’s does his then we’re all set for a summer settler.”
An action packed card at the Copper Box Arena features super-middleweight star Frank Buglioni defend his WBO European title against Gaetano Nespro, plus Bradley Skeete in a showdown against former world champion Vivian Harris for the Vacant WBA Intercontinental Welterweight title. An all star line up features former amateur star and unbeaten pro Thomas Stalker, Tyson Fury’s cousin and undefeated heavyweight sensation Hughie Fury, plus top talents Lewis Pettitt, Georgie Kean, Billy Morgan and Steve Collins Jnr.
Remaining tickets for Rock The Box III, priced from £40 are available from Eventim on 0844 249 1000 or online at www.eventim.co.uk
Watch live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Ch. 437/Virgin Ch. 546). Join at www.boxnation.com
