Tyson Fury is set to return to action in August as he prepares for a clash with Anthony Joshua, but has ruled out one possible opponent after negotiations collapsed.
Fury ended his retirement back in April when he outboxed Russia’s Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, before calling on a long-awaited showdown with ‘AJ’ during the aftermath.
Joshua has signed the deal, but will have a warm-up fight first in order to shake off some ring rust and build up his relationship with new trainer, Iegor Golub.
He will take on Albania’s Kristian Prenga next month, whilst Fury is expected for a run out of his own in August, with former unified heavyweight champion and Joshua conqueror, Andy Ruiz Jr, amongst the names being mentioned.
However, in an interview with iFL TV, Fury revealed that Ruiz has ‘priced himself out’ of that opportunity.
“All of these rumours of like Andy Ruiz, I can clear that up. Andy Ruiz has been contacted as a warm-up fight because that is all he is, a little, fat, bum, dosser. Although, he knocked out the bodybuilder [Joshua], he wouldn’t come close to me. I would punch his head right in.
“But, they asked for ridiculous numbers – numbers that they can’t generate. This is not a stadium show, it is initially a ‘keep busy’ fight, back in the ring, action job.
“Andy Ruiz priced himself out, so did a few other people but we are still searching for an opponent.”
Ruiz has been out of the ring since a controversial draw with Jarrell Miller in 2024. He has teased a comeback in the years since, but nothing has materialised, and many feel he has missed out on reaching the heights of his famous ‘AJ’ win back in 2019.
With Fury’s proposed August date quickly approaching, a final decision on his opponent is expected soon.
