Tyson Fury says he is open to fighting Sonny Bill Williams or Paul Gallen
As boxing superstar Tyson Fury mulls over a potential candidate for his megafight in Australia, the Gypsy King says two former NRL stars turned boxers are both on his radar.
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Tyson Fury says he is open to fighting Sonny Bill Williams or Paul Gallen as British boxing’s $370 million megastar mulls over Australian opponents for his proposed blockbuster fight debut Down Under.
In an exclusive interview with News Corp, Fury – wearing a Queensland jumper ahead of Origin I – confirmed Sonny Bill and former NSW skipper Gallen are on his hit-list for the biggest bout in Australian boxing history.
Fury’s promoters are deep in talks with the Queensland and Victorian governments for the ‘Gypsy King’ to headline Australia’s first heavyweight world-title fight in 115 years.
News Corp can reveal Fury (33-0-1, 24KO) has ruled out two would-be domestic contenders in Gold Coast-based cruiserweight world champion Jai Opetaia (22-0, 17KO) and Australia’s heavyweight rising star Justis Huni (7-0, 4KO).
That leaves unbeaten Queensland southpaw Demsey ‘Tower of Terror’ McKean (22-0, 14KO), plus former NRL stars Sonny Bill (9-1, 4KO) and Gallen (15-2-1, 8KO).
Fury toured Suncorp Stadium on Thursday and the ‘Gypsy King’ says while he is not a hard-core rugby league fan, he is aware of the sporting exploits of footballers-turned-fighters SBW and Gallen.
“I actually know Sonny Bill Williams,” Fury said.
“He has trained in my gym back home in Morecambe, he came over with Joseph Parker one time and I had the opportunity to train with Sonny Bill.
“Sonny Bill is a pretty good fighter actually.
“He could definitely be one of my opponents, I wouldn’t rule him out, it depends what makes sense.
“I actually found Sonny Bill a good, strong fighter.”
The 37-year-old Williams’ stocks have dropped following his fourth-round TKO loss to Mark Hunt last November, while Gallen insists he is done with boxing after his second defeat of Justin Hodges six months ago.
But a possible $20 million blockbuster against Fury could convince Gallen to come out of retirement for a crack at the heavyweight world title.
“Gallen is the other rugby guy and I know about him,” Fury said.
“He is another one on the table.
“If they’ve had a few fights and they are experienced, that’s the big consideration for me.
“They have to have some experience in the game.
“We’ll see what happens, my promoters bring the names and shows and I go in and kick their a**”
While Fury praised Sonny Bill and Gallen, it is understood the frontrunner for a Gypsy King show Down Under is Ipswich product McKean, who is world-ranked and cuts an imposing figure at 198cm.
WBC world champion Fury stands 206cm and says he has no interest fighting Opetaia, whom he regards as too small, or Brisbane sensation Huni, whom he views as too raw.
“Jai Opetaia is a cruiserweight so he’s too small,” Fury said.
“I know Opetaia is a cruiserweight world champion and a good fighter, but to be honest he isn’t in the equation.
“I don’t really know much about Justis Huni, so he can’t have had many fights if I don’t know about him.
“How can I fight a seven-fight guy? I would get absolutely slaughtered by the critics to fight a guy with seven fights when I’m the heavyweight world champion.
“There’s no victory in that for me. If I beat him, people say his opponent had just seven fights, and if I lose, I’m a piece of s***, so what do I gain from that?
“I’m not interested in a guy who’s had seven fights, come back when you have done something.”
Fury confirmed he met with McKean’s management in Melbourne on Wednesday.
“I had a chat with McKean’s manager (Angelo Di Carlo) and he seems like a good bloke,” he said.
“To be honest, I like the look of Demsey McKean. He is world-ranked in the top 10. He is six foot six, southpaw, undefeated from 22 fights and he is top 10 in all the rankings, so he would be my choice.
“He’s got everything, he’s got it all to challenge me.”
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Originally published as Tyson Fury says he is open to fighting Sonny Bill Williams or Paul Gallen
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