by Saudi boxing boss Turki Alalshikh has hinted he will try to talk Tyson Fury out of his recent retirement, but already has contingency plans for Anthony Joshua if a fight between the pair cannot be arranged.
Alalshikh, a member of the Saudi royal court and a key power broker behind the kingdom’s entry into the sport, said he would give Fury some time but does not seem convinced that his decision to quit the sport is final.
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The self-proclaimed “Gypsy King” announced his in-ring career was over following his recent loss to Oleksandr Usyk, but has made U-turns in the past after claiming he was retired.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Alalshikh said: “As a boxing fan I don’t like it. We want to see Tyson in more big fights, but I can understand his decision.
“But over time this decision may change. I will support him and talk to him about it. I’ll leave him with his family for a while and then we can discuss it.”
A long-talked-about clash with Joshua would generate huge interest and undoubtedly represent a big win if the 36-year-old could be lured back.
However, Alalshikh rejected the more outrageous claims about a possible purse and was already considering American Deontay Wilder as an alternative to Joshua.
“A lot of rumors don’t help us. “Nobody is going to suggest £500m for a fight, those figures are wrong,” he said.
“And if Tyson isn’t available, why not Joshua and Wilder? If you want to know about the British markets, I want to see Joshua and Wilder now.”
