Tyson Fury claims heavyweight rivals were 'gifted' world titles

Tyson Fury has said the reigning heavyweight champions have been "gifted" their titles and insisted his best is still to come.

Fury (35-2-1, 24 KOs) will take on Polish fighter Mariusz Wach in Thailand on Friday, in an un-televised bout that will raise money for charity.

The fight is also crucial ahead of a potential clash with Anthony Joshua, who takes on Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday.

Should they both win, the pair are expected to face off in November.

Fury said he wants three fights this year and believes he is the biggest draw in the division. He added that the likes of Daniel Dubois (WBO), Agit Kabayel (WBC) and Murat Gassiev (WBA) had been handed their belts after Oleksandr Usyk vacated his titles in June.

"All them men have been gifted world titles," Fury told a pre-fight news conference in Thailand on Wednesday.

"They've never actually fought anyone to get one. Fabio Wardley, gifted a world title. Daniel Dubois, gifted a world title. Agit Kabayel, gifted a world title. [Murat] Gassiev, gifted world titles.

"How can you compare them men to me, whose fought legends in the game and beat them for the titles?

"They're in their own little group, and I'm on top of the Empire State Building.

"They've got f--- all I want. They don't have any money. I've already had all the belts. They've got nothing that I want. The names ... Who knows these people?"

As well as getting "decent rounds" ahead of a fight with Joshua, Fury said his bout in Thailand, which will be staged in front of 1,500 people, is about showing he can do what he wants and raising money for a children's charity.

"I looked around, did my own research and found the Father Ray Foundation," Fury said. "They've helped thousands and thousands of sick children, deprived children all over the country.

"Which other world champion on my level, high level athlete on earth would do a performance in 1,500 seater [arena] in Pattaya?

"You think David Beckham would play a professional football [game] here or someone famous like that? No way. A lot of these celebrities and big sports stars they think they're bigger than they actually are."

Fury insists he is not thinking about the fight with Wach, and is only focused on securing a clash with Joshua. He claims that he is in a situation where he can do what he wants, and that he has the power to choose his opponents.

"I can fight whoever I want, whenever I want," Fury stated. "I'm the main man in the heavyweight division. I've got the power, I've got the money, I've got the skills, I've got the charisma.

"I've got everything that they haven't got. They're all pretenders. They're all looking for a payday. I'm looking for legacy."

Fury is also looking to use the fight to get back into shape after a period of inactivity. He has not fought since his last professional bout in 2022, and he admits that he needs to regain his fighting fitness.

"I'm not in the best shape of my life, but I'm getting there," Fury confessed. "I'll be ready for Joshua when the time comes. I'll be ready for anyone."

Fury believes that he is still the best heavyweight boxer in the world, despite his inactivity. He claims that he has the talent and the experience to beat any opponent.

"I'm the lineal heavyweight champion of the world," Fury declared. "Nobody can take that away from me. I've beaten the best, and I'll do it again."

Fury has won 35 of his 57 professional fights, with 24 knockouts. Wach, who has a record of 37-10 (20 KOs), has not fought since 2022.

Fury is confident that he will win his fight against Wach, and that he will then go on to face Joshua in a blockbuster showdown. He believes that this is the biggest fight in boxing history.

"It's going to be a massive event," Fury said. "It's going to be bigger than Ali-Frazier. It's going to be bigger than anything you've ever seen before."