PATTAYA: Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury said on Wednesday he believes his career is far from over as he prepares for a charity fight in Thailand, insisting “the best is yet to come” ahead of an expected blockbuster clash with fellow Briton Anthony Joshua later this year.
Speaking in Pattaya before Friday’s exhibition bout, Fury said he feels physically and mentally refreshed after spending several months training in Thailand, describing the experience as a fresh start.
The 37-year-old will face Mariusz Wach, a 46-year-old Polish heavyweight nicknamed “The Viking,” in a charity fight at the Max Muay Thai Stadium. The event will raise funds for an organisation supporting underprivileged children in Pattaya.
Although many view the contest as a tune-up for his anticipated fight against Joshua, Fury declined to discuss the highly awaited showdown, saying his focus remains on the upcoming charity event.
“I don’t feel like the world’s seen the best Tyson Fury yet,” he said. “I’ve been here since December. It’s a beautiful place with great people and excellent training facilities. I feel at peace.”
Fury added that competing is no longer about financial rewards but about maintaining his fitness and continuing to enjoy the sport.
“I’m boxing because I want to stay match fit, and I enjoy doing it,” he said.
The former heavyweight champion returned to boxing in April after a 16-month retirement, defeating Russian heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov by points. He had been scheduled to fight in Dublin on August 1 but said he chose the Thailand event because it supports a charitable cause.
The fight will take place in a much smaller venue than Fury is accustomed to and will not be televised live. Instead, it will be filmed for his upcoming Netflix series.
Fury, who turned professional in 2008, rose to international prominence by defeating long-time heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko in 2015. Widely known as the “Gypsy King,” he remains one of boxing’s biggest names.
Meanwhile, Anthony Joshua is set to return to the ring against Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia on Saturday. It will be Joshua’s first fight since a car accident in Nigeria last December that claimed the lives of two of his close friends.
If both British heavyweights emerge victorious in their upcoming bouts, attention is expected to shift toward a long-awaited showdown that boxing fans have anticipated for years.
