HEAVYWEIGHT contender Hughie Fury has been blocked from taking part in an official fight before his WBO world title shot against Joseph Parker on September 23.
Per the WBO rules, once a mandatory challenger signs to challenge the champion, they cannot fight before their title shot.
Hughie, cousin of former division leader Tyson Fury, was scheduled to shake off ring rust this weekend in a warm-up fight but is no longer able to have an officially sanctioned bout.
“The WBO, once you’re a mandatory, you’re not allowed to have a fight before your title shot, otherwise you’ll lose your position. He’s got some cobwebs to blow off, so he’ll be in an exhibition,” promoter Frank Warren, who stages the show on Saturday, confirmed to Boxing News.
So Fury will still box on Saturday, but it will not be an official fight and it will not count on his record. He is also slated to box in Blackpool on July 15, but it is unclear whether that will also be an exhibition or if he will just be pulled from the show.
Hughie has not boxed since defeating Fred Kassi in April of last year. His hiatus has been down to health problems and a suspension from UKAD, though Fury maintains his innocence against allegations of a failed drug test.
He was set to fight Parker in New Zealand, but their fight was postponed when the unbeaten Brit suffered a back injury, from which he has now recovered.
