FRANKLY SPEAKING
Tyson Fury lined up to fight Agit Kabayel as Frank Warren reveals contract offer to unknown boxer
TYSON FURY has chosen to fight unbeaten German Agit Kabayel on his UK homecoming, promoter Frank Warren revealed.
Fury decided to walk away from a trilogy bout with Deontay Wilder after the rematch clause expired last month.
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He will return to the ring on December 5 for a tune-up before focusing his efforts on an undisputed title decider against Anthony Joshua next year.
Warren confirmed the news and revealed a contract is being sent to Kabayel - a former sparring partner of Joshua's - who has a day to sign it.
He told : “Tyson’s fighting on December 5.
“We’re giving the guy we want to fight, which is Kabayel, we’re giving him 24 hours now to sign the contract or we’re going to move on.
“He’s undefeated and has a win on his record over Derek Chisora. He [was] the European champion and he’s ranked by the WBC.
“That’s who’s sitting at the moment on a contract and we’re waiting.
“He’s got about 24 hours now to make his mind up to sign it and send it back or we’ll move on. He’s the fight, subject to the contract being signed.”
Fury, 32, dethroned Wilder, 35, of the heavyweight crown in February and the pair were already signed to a third fight.
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But as the coronavirus pandemic delayed the return of fans, it continued to push back the bout.
In the end, Wilder's rematch stipulation expired, allowing Fury to move on.
The Gypsy King had considered facing Oscar Rivas, 33, and Carlos Takam, 39, but both were teamed too small to replicate 6ft 6in AJ.
Instead Kabayel, unbeaten in 20 fights, was selected as the opponent.
Joshua sparred the 6ft 3in 28-year-old in 2018 before knocking out Alexander Povetkin and then prior to defeat against Andy Ruiz Jr in June 2019.
Kabayel is the WBA's No8 ranked challenger, 15th in the WBC and ninth in the IBF.
Joshua, 31, faces mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev, 39, a week after Fury's first fight on home soil in two years.
If both champions prevail, it sets up the first ever heavyweight world title fight with all four belts on the line.
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