I wouldn’t be surprised if Fury calls me outpublished at 20:27 BST
20:27 BST
Fury v Makhmudov
Fabio Wardley
Heavyweight world champion
If Tyson Fury beats Arslan Makhmudov on Saturday, I wouldn’t be surprised if he calls me out – and I’d 100% be up for that fight later in the year.
In fact, I was pushing for Fury as an opponent before we announced my upcoming fight with Daniel Dubois.
I was the one saying yes, and he actually was the one that said: “Let me have a little time, I’ve had a year out, let me have a warm-up.”
Of course, the priority for me will always be an undisputed fight against Oleksandr Usyk – I want to test myself against the best in the world – but if Fury does his thing and, God willing, I defend my belt against Daniel Dubois next month, then we can have a conversation.
I never actually expected Fury to stay retired. It’s great to have him back, active, posting on Instagram, doing his shout-outs and whatever he does.
I didn’t really feel like he was gone, more that he was just taking a break, as he does. When he said he was retired, I thought: “We’ll see you in a year.”