Former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury says he plans to invite United States President Donald Trump to lead his ring walk when he faces British rival Anthony Joshua in Cardiff on December 11.

Fury and Joshua are scheduled to meet at the 80,000-capacity Principality Stadium, with the former champion hoping Trump will join him for the walk to the ring.

Fury met Trump at the UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House in June and later wore a cap bearing the message, “Donald Trump for Prime Minister.”

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Fury said he would extend the invitation to Trump, although he acknowledged that the US president’s schedule could make his attendance difficult.

“I’ll definitely make that offer to my old buddy, old pal, and we’ll see if he’s available,” Fury said.

“Probably unlikely because of the situation he’s in at the moment, being the President of the United States.”

Fury also played down the significance of the Joshua bout, describing it as preparation for a potential third meeting with Oleksandr Usyk.

The 38-year-old has lost twice to the Ukrainian and said he wants another opportunity to face him after the Joshua fight.

“I don’t have any intention of retiring after Joshua. I’m using this bum as a warm-up for Usyk,” Fury said.

“This is a bum to me and I can guarantee that on the night when I knock him spark out he won’t know what time it is. And then I want the rabbit (Usyk) in New York City.”

Fury said his preparations had left him feeling confident ahead of the Joshua showdown, pointing to recent sparring sessions against heavyweight opponents.

“This year will be the most active year for me since 2018. I’ve done 12 rounds with a 6ft 8in Arslanbek Makhmudov and I’ve done seven rounds with another 6ft 7in behemoth in Mariusz Wach,” he said.

“Let’s not pull any punches here. I’m firing on all cylinders at the moment. I feel fantastic. I’m 38 years young.”

AFP

LUKMAN ABDULMALIK
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