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New footage of Tyson Fury sparring leaked ahead of long-awaited comeback

Despite nearly two-and-a-half years out of action the Gypsy King looks to be back up to speed

Sunday 29 April 2018 12:47 BST
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Billy Joe Saunders posts video on Instagram of sparring session with Tyson Fury

Tyson Fury is back in the ring - and he looks better than ever.

The former world heavyweight champion has not fought since beating Wladimir Klitschko back 2015 but will be back in action against an as-yet-unnamed opponent on June 9.

And despite nearly two-and-a-half years out of action the Gypsy King looks to be getting back up to speed.

In a video posted to Instagram by WBO middleweight world champion Billy Joe Saunders Fury can be seen sparring Mariusz Wach in Ricky Hatton’s Manchester gym.

"@gypsyking101 looks like his never been gone," Saunders posted. "Just a quicken lads, the king, the king’s back. Just playing games, having fun, playing games. Games, I swear to god games.”

In Fury's absence fellow Briton Anthony Joshua and American Deontay Wilder have taken control of the heavyweight decision, but Fury insists he will beat them both.

The 29-year-old said: "I can beat them all. I've got natural ability you can't teach. I don't think I can, I know I can.

"I am in control of my own destiny. I'd like to see the man who wants to stand in front of me and try to take that away from me. He'd better be good, very good.

"If he is good, I'm going to be better, and if he's even better than that, I'm going to be more hungry than he is.

"I'll keep going - deep, deep, deep. They say I'm the Duracell bunny - I'm tougher than that. I can go longer."

Fury has had issues with drugs, mental health and his weight since he beat Wladimir Klitschko to claim the WBA, IBF, WBO titles in November 2015.

Fury is finally ready to return to the ring (Getty)

He admits he lost desire for the sport but he never doubted his ability and some trash-talking from Wilder, the current WBC holder, provided his prime motivation to return.

He said: "It was really Denotay Wilder who spurred me on and gave me the ambition to return. He said I couldn't do it. He said, 'Tyson Fury, he's done'.

"And I was walking along the canal with my dog at the time, I thought, 'You know what, I'm a fat pig. Look at the state of me'. I felt like jumping in the water and drowning.

"Then I thought I'm going to turn this around and knock him out. I can tie one hand behind my back and beat Wilder.

Fury has been granted a new boxing licence by the BBBoC (Getty)

"They can pick which one they want, left hand, right hand. That's how confident I am in my own ability."

Fury's comeback fight will be his first as a professional to take place in his home city of Manchester. His opponent is expected to be named in the coming weeks.

Fury expects to be back in world title contention within two or three bouts. By then, Joshua may have met Wilder in a unification fight and match-up against the winner would hold huge appeal.

Fury said: "When I'm ready for these guys, in a couple of fights, a couple of warm-up fights, then I'll take them. I'll take on anybody, I don't fear anybody.

"They're all very good fighters and champions but I think my talent, confidence and skill alone is enough to beat these fellas."

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