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he is a character

Tyson Fury needs to get back in the ring to help Anthony Joshua carry ‘terrible’ heavyweight division, says Luke Campbell

TYSON FURY needs to get in shape and help Anthony Joshua carry the “terrible” heavyweight division, according to Team GB hero and Lightweight star Luke Campbell.

The ex-champ meets the British Boxing Board of Control on Monday - following a troubling drugs ban - that could help him return and secure the huge fight with AJ.

 Cool Hand Luke Campbell forced Darleys Perez to retire in their lightweight fight at Wembley
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Cool Hand Luke Campbell forced Darleys Perez to retire in their lightweight fight at WembleyCredit: Getty Images

Campbell – the baby-faced assassin – beat Darleys Perez on the undercard of Joshua’s thrilling win over Wladimir Klitschko and loved being a part of the Wembley show.


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 Despite being inactive after his troubles out of the ring, Tyson Fury is desperate for a return to the big time
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Despite being inactive after his troubles out of the ring, Tyson Fury is desperate for a return to the big timeCredit: Getty Images
 Fury is keen for a mega-money fight with fellow Brit Anthony Joshua
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Fury is keen for a mega-money fight with fellow Brit Anthony JoshuaCredit: Getty Images

But he pulls no punches when he weighs up the heavyweight division outside of AJ, Fury, Klitschko and WBC champ Deontay Wilder.

When asked for his view on Fury, Cool Hand said: “I think he is a real character for the sport and he is on his own path, like we all are.

“People can do what he does and still perform but I am not that type of guy.

“I know I am where I am because of hard work and discipline, other people are not like that and can get away with it and still perform.

Tyson can get away with it. Tyson is a big guy and the division is terrible, there are four good fighters in it.

“It’s a shame, if there were more Joshuas, Furys and Wilders it would be an exciting division.

Josh’s fight was exciting but there are only two more of them out there.”

 Fury is planning a July return if he can shed the weight and overturn his drugs ban at a UK Anti-Doping hearing on Monday
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Fury is planning a July return if he can shed the weight and overturn his drugs ban at a UK Anti-Doping hearing on MondayCredit: Getty Images
 Joseph Parker is also available if AJ wants to unify the heavyweight division but was poor at the weekend
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Joseph Parker is also available if AJ wants to unify the heavyweight division but was poor at the weekendCredit: Getty Images

Campbell’s division is exciting, it is one of the toughest in all of world boxing with a list of unbeaten knock-out specialists at the summit.

Jorge Linares – the three-weight icon - is his next target and the other major belts in the division are held by Mikey Garcia 36-0, Terry Flanagan 33-0 and Robert Easter Jnr on 19-0.

Unlike Fury – who sometimes looks double his 28 years – Campbell could be asked for I.D when buying a tub of rum and raisin Ben and Jerry’s.

And there is no chance he would risk his career with Fury-like excess – with the level of competition - although he admits to curry and ice-cream feasts after fights.

 Joseph Parker vs Razvan Cojanu was a worrying sign of how shallow the heavyweight division is
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Joseph Parker vs Razvan Cojanu was a worrying sign of how shallow the heavyweight division is

Campbell said: “I am a young 29-year-old because I live the right life, I don’t go out boozing or parting, I live the right life.

“I don’t have takeaways every night. I live the life I am supposed to. With me it’s 100 per cent or nothing.

“I could retire tomorrow and go out drinking every day and eating whatever I want, party do whatever but I have goals I really want to achieve and that’s to be world champion.

 The Olympic gold medalist beat the former champion and made himself No1 contender for Jorge Linares
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The Olympic gold medalist beat the former champion and made himself No1 contender for Jorge LinaresCredit: PA:Press Association

“I want to excite fans too, you can be a world champion and not have a fan base – I want both. I want to entertain and give them good and entertaining fights.

“You can’t miss what you’ve never had and if I am boxing then I want to know that – whether I make it or not – I gave it my best.

"I can be happy with myself then, even in failure.

“I don’t want to only do it half-hearted and then feel bad when I don’t get the right results. Then I can blame myself.

 Jorge Linares is one of the most fearsome fighters on the planet and Campbell could fight him next
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Jorge Linares is one of the most fearsome fighters on the planet and Campbell could fight him nextCredit: Getty Images
 Linares destoryed British star Anthony Crolla in Manchester and would return to the UK to fight Campbell
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Linares destoryed British star Anthony Crolla in Manchester and would return to the UK to fight CampbellCredit: Getty Images

“But - even if I don’t make it – as long as I do everything properly I can live with myself.

“That’s the same mentality I had for the Olympics.

"Before qualifying, medalling or winning, I never want to live with regrets.”

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