TYSON FURY has revealed his top five heavyweight boxers – with Brit rival Anthony Joshua down in third.
Unsurprisingly, Fury put himself at the top of the tree, but few would argue against that.
The Gypsy King completed one of the sport’s greatest ever comebacks when he battered Deontay Wilder in their February rematch.
It saw Fury win the WBC title and hand Wilder his first ever pro defeat.
But despite that one-sided beatdown, Fury still ranks Wilder ahead of Joshua in the pecking order, the American coming in at No2.
It could be mind games starting early after it was announced Fury and Joshua had agreed a two-fight deal to take place in 2021.
Tyson Fury battered Deontay Wilder to be crowned WBC heavyweight champCredit: Reuters
Joshua and Fury’s historic undisputed title clash relied on them both winning their next fights, with AJ facing IBF mandatory Kubrat Pulev and Fury fighting Wilder for a third time.
Joshua is ranked third, with Oleksandr Usyk coming in at four.
The Ukrainian is scheduled to take his first step into the heavyweight division after unifying cruiserweight.
He agreed a deal to take on Derek Chisora before coronavirus suspended boxing.
But those two are set to get it on once the sport resumes.
In fifth spot in the list Fury reeled off in a chat with the WBC is Dillian Whyte.
The Brixton brawler is the mandatory challenger for Fury’s WBC strap and has called for a shot at the Gypsy King.
He was constantly ignored by Wilder when he held the belt.
But according to Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn, Whyte could get his chance BEFORE Fury versus Joshua.
Hearn told Sky Sports: “From our point of view, Dillian Whyte is mandatory, and that mandatory is supposed to land before the end of February 2021.
“We want Dillian Whyte to fight Tyson Fury as soon as possible, and if Wilder is not available for any reason then Dillian should step in and take that.
“The point of Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua and the teams agreeing to the structure of that deal – that deal can happen, that first fight can happen at the end of next summer.
“It will be 2021, but there is a big period of time where Dillian Whyte should be getting his shot at the world title and that’s important to us.”
Tyson Fury confirms Anthony Joshua fight deal is agreed and vows to ‘annihilate’ him after he ‘smashes Wilder’s face in’
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
