• Boxing

Fury: Hammer win as likely as me out-sprinting Usain Bolt

Tyson Fury fights Christian Hammer on February 28 © PA Photos

Enlarge

Tyson Fury says upcoming opponent Christian Hammer has as much chance of beating him on points as Fury does winning a 100m sprint against Usain Bolt.

Hammer claimed on Tuesday that he will come out the February 28 clash at London's O2 Arena as victor, but European and WBO international heavyweight champion Fury had other ideas.

"I don't believe there is a man in this room who thinks he can beat me," Fury said. "The bookies certainly don't believe it and I certainly don't believe it.

On the Wilder side

Deontay Wilder is world champion © Getty Images

• Deontay Wilder is no saviour of boxing, writes Steve Bunce - and he certainly won't be calling out Tyson Fury any time soon ...
• Click here to read more

"He has got about as much chance of beating me on points as me beating Usain Bolt in a 100m sprint - not very much, but I'd still give it a go and that is what he is here to do.

"He is going to give it a go and racing ain't boxing, heavyweight boxing only takes one punch on the chin or temple, anywhere really, and it is all over. That is why it is such a great sport. The underdog can always win.

"Me racing Usain Bolt, I'm the underdog and I'd never win so that is why boxing is so special."

Fury, the mandatory challenger to Wladimir Klitschko's WBO belt following his victory against Dereck Chisora last year, has already been name-checked as a potential opponent by newly-crowned WBC titlist Deontay Wilder.

The American dethroned Bermane Stiverne last Saturday and, while promoter Frank Warren admitted he had already spoken to Wilder's camp about a potential fight with the Brit, Fury indicated his focus was solely on Hammer.

"It is very refreshing to hear the new heavyweight champion wants to fight me," Fury said of Wilder. "It shows the calibre of fighter I am when the first thing out of their mouth is that they want to fight me, so there we have it.

"Hammer is a good boxer. I must focus on this fight and I take it very. Very seriously. As far as I'm concerned I'm not interested in Klitschko, Wilder or anyone else, I'm only interested in this guy.

"Hammer is my most accomplished opponent for far from the pedigree of his amateur background and how he has come through the professional fight and he is on a winning streak, he has won his last 10."

However, asked what his ideal path to a title would be, Fury aimed high as he looks to collect his first world title.

"I would chose to fight Klitschko because he is number one in the division," he added.

"He holds most of the belts. Then I would defend it against Deontay Wilder to unify the division, that is my ideal plan providing I get past Hammer."

Promoter Warren revealed he would drop the Hammer fight tomorrow if an agreement could be reached for Fury to meet Wilder, calling a potential bout "the biggest".

Warren said: "I had a conversation last night [Monday] but it is early days.

"They said they wanted it - they called it out and said they wanted it. If we made that fight today I would pay him [Hammer] off, and talk them out of it and go straight to it.

"We would pay him, give him another fight on the card and go straight to the Wilder fight, why take the risk? Everyone is pushing against an open door here. All this guy [Fury] wants to do is fight for a world title, whether it be Klitschko or Wilder. There are some talks going on about it.

"The most exciting fight out there is Fury versus Wilder - two undefeated heavyweights, same style and similar heights.

"As a promoter obviously you are looking to put on the big events and I think the Wilder fight would be huge. It would be the biggest fight in the last 10 years of British boxing. It would fill up any football ground in the country. 2015 is the renaissance of the heavyweight division."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd