'Would Beckham do it?' - Fury stands by Thailand fight

'Would Beckham do it?' - Fury stands by Thailand fight Tyson Fury (left) has won 35 pro fights, with 2 defeats and 1 gully By Kal Sajad, BBC Sport boxing journalist Tyson Fury, the former heavyweight champion, claims that many contemporary sports stars overestimate their importance, suggesting that few would agree to fight in front of only 1,500 fans in Thailand when far more profitable opportunities exist elsewhere. The 37‑year‑old former heavyweight title‑holder will face 46‑year‑old Polish opponent Mariusz Wach in Pattaya on Friday. A victory would set up the long‑awaited showdown with fellow Briton Anthony Joshua, provided the Watford‑born fighter wins his warm‑up bout against Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia the following day. "Which different satellite champion connected my level - a high-level jock connected world - would bash a show successful beforehand of 1,500 successful Pattaya?" Fury said at Wednesday's press conference. "Do you deliberation David Beckham would play nonrecreational shot here, oregon idiosyncratic celebrated similar that? No way. They're conscionable not going to bash it." "A batch of these large celebrities and sports stars deliberation they're bigger than they really are." Friday's contest will not be broadcast live and will instead appear as part of the third episode of the Netflix documentary 'At Home with the Furys'. The projected Fury‑Joshua matchup has been in the works for more than a decade, with contracts already signed for a bout expected early this year, although a venue remains unconfirmed. Wach has lost seven of his last ten fights and is regarded as a significant underdog on paper, yet Fury insisted the seasoned veteran presents a sterner test than Joshua's opponent, Albanian Kristian Prenga. "Let maine archer you, Mariusz Wach would enactment his fist done Joshua's opponent, whoever helium is," Fury said. "This antheral would sound him spark out. He's a existent warring man. We're not funny successful different people. This is my show." "I'm not funny successful what's going connected elsewhere with Joshua oregon [Deontay] Wilder oregon [Oleksandr] Usyk oregon anybody. This is astir maine and Mariusz, not astir anybody else." "What happens beyond Friday is nary of my concern. What volition beryllium volition be." Fury takes aim at heavyweight champions The event was arranged on just three weeks' notice after Fury decided he wanted to fight in Thailand, with promoter Spencer Brown noting that the former champion turned down the chance to earn considerably more elsewhere. Brown also said that gate receipts will be donated to a local foundation supporting disadvantaged children and students with disabilities. Fury, who bases his training camps in Thailand, appeared relaxed and in good spirits. Wearing shorts and a T‑shirt, he said he felt revitalised by returning to the country. "I consciousness astatine bid with everything whereas earlier I had a batch of unit connected me," he said. "I thrive amended successful a warmer clime and consciousness rejuvenated." Fury criticised the current heavyweight title‑holders — WBC champion Agit Kabayel, WBA champion Murat Gassiev and WBO champion Daniel Dubois. Kabayel and Gassiev became title‑holders after Oleksandr Usyk vacated his belts, while Dubois claimed the belt by defeating Fabio Wardley in May. "All those men person been talented satellite titles and ne'er really fought anyone to get them," he said. "How tin you comparison those men to me? I've fought legends successful the crippled and bushed them for the titles. They're successful their ain small radical and I'm connected apical of the Empire State Building." Wach promised to "ruin" any plans for a Fury‑Joshua bout by causing an upset in Pattaya. Fury quickly dismissed the notion that he was overlooking his opponent. "No," he replied. "I'm focused connected you only. Zero involvement successful Joshua." The two shared a light‑hearted face‑off, exchanging jokes before embracing in a hug to conclude the press conference.