Tyson Fury wary of Francesco Pianeta threat at Windsor Park

Tyson Fury believes that Francesco Pianeta will be in the mood to cause a huge heavyweight upset when they meet.
By The Newsroom
Published 7th Aug 2018, 19:40 BST
Updated 31st Aug 2018, 17:22 BST
Paddy Barnes, Carl Frampton and Tyson Fury will all fight at Windsor Park on August 18Paddy Barnes, Carl Frampton and Tyson Fury will all fight at Windsor Park on August 18
Paddy Barnes, Carl Frampton and Tyson Fury will all fight at Windsor Park on August 18

Fury faces the Italian at Belfast’s Windsor Park on Saturday August 18, when they share top billing with Carl Frampton.

Pianeta a 6ft 5in southpaw who weighs around 245lb knows a shock win could earn him a third world heavyweight title challenge and ruin Fury’s hopes of dominating the division once again.

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Pianeta fell short against Wladimir Klitschko and Ruslan Chagaev, but Fury who recently returned after a two and a half year break said: “There is a target on my back.

“Pianeta is just one win away from being back right there among the best.

“Everybody brings there A game when they face me. They know it’s a lottery win if they can beat me.”

Fury doesn’t need to study Pianeta having sparred with him when his rival was an unbeaten world ranked prospect.

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Former world champion Fury who beat Sefer Seferi on his comeback in June recalled: “I sparred with him in Germany when he was 26 and 0.

“He was tough, strong and he is a good opponent - very good.

“It was before he went on to fight Klitschko and Chagaev for world titles, but I was impressed.

“People say this is a big step up from Seferi and they can say what they want, but Seferi went the full distance with a current world heavyweight champion, Manuel Charr.

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“He looked terrible against me, but that has happened to so many people. Wladimir Klitschko didn’t look much better against me than Seferi to be honest.”

Also on the Belfast bill two time world champion Frampton defends his interim WBO featherweight crown against Australian Luke Jackson on the bill that is nearing a sell-out.

And in only his sixth professional fightPaddy Barnes challenges WBC flyweight champion Cristofer Rosales.

The bill also includes a light-heavyweight clash between Belfast’s Steven Ward and Dubliner Steve Collins Jr. Also in action is WBO European middleweight champion Luke Keeler, Conrad Cummings, KO king Lewis Crocker, Marco McCullough, Sean McComb and Steven Donnelly.

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Very limited remaining tickets are available from www.ticketmaster.ie priced at £80, £100, £120, £150, £250, £400 (includes hospitality). Buying tickets over the phone - 0844 847 2455. To purchase Accessible Seating - 0333 321 9996

Related topics:Belfast