Tyson Fury could face Wladimir Klitschko in rematch as Saudi boxing chief hints at opportunity to break George Foreman record
Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh wants to make a ‘dream’ rematch between Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko. Stunning reports surfaced that 48-year-old heavyweight legend Klitschko had been in talks to return in an IBF world title clash with Daniel Dubois. Fury beat Klitschko in 2015 and a rematch could be back on the table years laterGetty The bout didn’t materialise, but the Ukrainian star is reportedly keen to make an against-the-odds comeback, having kept himself in shape since his retirement in 2017. One of Klitschko’s biggest rivals in the sport is British heavyweight Fury, who outboxed him in a masterclass in 2015 to steal his unified world titles in a penultimate career fight. The pair were set to rematch in July 2016 but the Briton was forced to withdraw, and a rescheduled date was also cancelled with Fury unable to compete. But Turki Alalshikh, who has been staging boxing’s biggest fights as part of Saudi Arabia’s entertainment festival Riyadh Season, has his eyes on making the sequel in the present day. He said on the Ariel X Ade Show: “The result of Tyson vs. Usyk, a lot of people are waiting for them. “One of them is Dubois. Another is Joshua. At the same time, there is a third person. “I am dreaming of seeing this fight to give chance if he accepts to give Klitschko to give back to be the oldest heavyweight champion ever. “To give him the chance. This is perfect. Of course, he won’t fight Usyk if he wins because they’re two heroes from Ukraine will not fight each other. This is the dream. “Fury has a lot of people that want him in the line. Klitschko, all the people want to see it from 2015 again. And there’s also Joshua, which would be the hugest Britain fight ever [against Fury]. Of course, Dubois deserves this chance. Let’s see.” Alalshikh dreams of facilitating Klitschko’s return against FuryMark Robinson/Matchroom A return for Klitschko could see him given a unique opportunity to become the oldest-ever heavyweight champion at the age of 48. Heavyweight legend Foreman currently holds the record having become a world title holder at the age of 45 in 1994. He rolled back the years to score a stunning knockout of Michael Moorer in a tenth round demolition job, 21 years on from his first world title win in 1973. The Ukrainian has been desperate for revenge against Fury, given the pair are still not on the best of terms since their epic battle in Germany nine years ago. It is clear he is keen to return with reports suggesting he threw his own hat into the ring to face Dubois in February. But the fight hasn’t taken shape, which was reported to be influenced by Mike Tyson’s recent comeback fight against Jake Paul. Foreman became the oldest heavyweight world champion of all time when he KO’d MoorerGetty Heavyweight icon Tyson, aged 58, looked a shell of himself in a difficult points defeat to Paul, where he proved no match for the influencer-turned-boxer. And organisers were reported to have had reservations regarding a return for Klitschko, who is nearly now 50-years-old. Prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, ‘Dr Steelhammer’ had already teased a comeback plan of his own. And he revealed he intended to call out Fury publicly but plans were put on the back burner to focus on the war efforts. He said: “I was thinking I should tweet ‘Tyson Fury – ‘Last dance?’ “Since he wants to retire and we were supposed to have this rematch. I didn’t do it because my mind was now in a totally different world.”
Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh wants to make a ‘dream’ rematch between Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko.
Stunning reports surfaced that 48-year-old heavyweight legend Klitschko had been in talks to return in an IBF world title clash with Daniel Dubois.
The bout didn’t materialise, but the Ukrainian star is reportedly keen to make an against-the-odds comeback, having kept himself in shape since his retirement in 2017.
One of Klitschko’s biggest rivals in the sport is British heavyweight Fury, who outboxed him in a masterclass in 2015 to steal his unified world titles in a penultimate career fight.
The pair were set to rematch in July 2016 but the Briton was forced to withdraw, and a rescheduled date was also cancelled with Fury unable to compete.
But Turki Alalshikh, who has been staging boxing’s biggest fights as part of Saudi Arabia’s entertainment festival Riyadh Season, has his eyes on making the sequel in the present day.
He said on the Ariel X Ade Show: “The result of Tyson vs. Usyk, a lot of people are waiting for them.
“One of them is Dubois. Another is Joshua. At the same time, there is a third person.
“I am dreaming of seeing this fight to give chance if he accepts to give Klitschko to give back to be the oldest heavyweight champion ever.
“To give him the chance. This is perfect. Of course, he won’t fight Usyk if he wins because they’re two heroes from Ukraine will not fight each other. This is the dream.
“Fury has a lot of people that want him in the line. Klitschko, all the people want to see it from 2015 again.
And there’s also Joshua, which would be the hugest Britain fight ever [against Fury]. Of course, Dubois deserves this chance. Let’s see.”
A return for Klitschko could see him given a unique opportunity to become the oldest-ever heavyweight champion at the age of 48.
Heavyweight legend Foreman currently holds the record having become a world title holder at the age of 45 in 1994.
He rolled back the years to score a stunning knockout of Michael Moorer in a tenth round demolition job, 21 years on from his first world title win in 1973.
The Ukrainian has been desperate for revenge against Fury, given the pair are still not on the best of terms since their epic battle in Germany nine years ago.
It is clear he is keen to return with reports suggesting he threw his own hat into the ring to face Dubois in February.
But the fight hasn’t taken shape, which was reported to be influenced by Mike Tyson’s recent comeback fight against Jake Paul.
Heavyweight icon Tyson, aged 58, looked a shell of himself in a difficult points defeat to Paul, where he proved no match for the influencer-turned-boxer.
And organisers were reported to have had reservations regarding a return for Klitschko, who is nearly now 50-years-old.
Prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, ‘Dr Steelhammer’ had already teased a comeback plan of his own.
And he revealed he intended to call out Fury publicly but plans were put on the back burner to focus on the war efforts.
He said: “I was thinking I should tweet ‘Tyson Fury – ‘Last dance?’
“Since he wants to retire and we were supposed to have this rematch. I didn’t do it because my mind was now in a totally different world.”
