Now the number three ranked WBC title challenger’s trainer and uncle Peter has listed the names to WBN of the fighters who refused to oppose the 6ft 9ins man mountain and attempt to end his heavyweight run.
Rumours had spread and been confirmed that Prizefighter champion Tor Hamer, who beat Fury’s eventual opponent Kevin Johnson in the final, was offered the contest and rejected it, which was first to be rubberstamped by Peter.
“It’s true that Tor Hamer was offered the fight, but obviously he turned it down,” Fury confirmed to World Boxing News.
“(Former Lennox Lewis foe) Michael Grant got in touch with Mick Hennessy (Fury’s promoter). We accepted it and then he backed out.
“(One-time European title holder) Alexander Dimitrenko, American Eddie Chambers were both offered and Denis Boytsov, who has now postponed on us.
“Some people are now slating Johnson, but he has been offering Seth Mitchell and Deontay Wilder out for a year and they are avoiding him. This needs to be said and Tyson should get credit for the opponent’s he wants to fight.”
Johnson, 33, once went the distance with Vitali Klitschko, losing via a wide points margin, but not embarrassing himself by any means and ‘Kingpin’ has already begun his customary verbal assault, which Tyson Fury has brushed off.
“I know the guy can sell a fight for sure. But Johnson can have the war of words because in the ring it’s entirely another situation when he faces me,” The former Irish champion stated bluntly.
Tyson Fury and Kevin Johnson will square off at the Odyssey Arena next month in what has been billed as a WBC semi-final eliminator, with a shot at Vitali Klitschko one step closer for the winner.
