Top 10 opponents Tyson Fury can face

If Tyson Fury becomes so frustrated with David Haye’s injured face that he fancies taking on another heavyweight contender there are plenty to choose from. Here are 10 that could well fancy a chance at the Manc giant in the coming weeks and months.

1. Dereck Chisora

Fury handed Del Boy his first loss back in 2011 when he dominated his compatriot to earn a unanimous decision victory and both the British and Commonwealth Heavyweight titles. Chisora’s career is back on track though with impressive recent knockout wins over Malik Scott and Edmund Gerber for the European title. A rematch between the two would be something Fury will know he doesn’t need to do but could prove a popular call amongst fans.

2. David Price

Not too long ago this was being touted as the next big British showdown in the heavyweight division and Price was expected to wipe the floor with Fury until the Scouser suffered consecutive losses to Tony Thompson. Again there is no pressure on Fury to take this fight but as a replacement all-British bout it would stir up the interest of the public.

3.  Deontay Wilder

If Fury fancies a challenge and wants to prove David Haye wrong without having to fight him then he could take on Haye’s sparring partner Wilder. The American has fought 29 times, winning them all and knocking out every single vanquished foe. Haye said that any of his sparring partners would make Fury look silly and there are plenty who think Wilder would do just that.

4. Alexander Dimitrenko

Another of Haye’s sparring partners but potentially an easier night for Fury if he wanted to prove a point as the 31-year-old is not quite the dangerman that Wilder is. He has two losses to his name against Eddie Chambers and Kubrat Pulev and has been floored in his last two fights although he came back to win them both.

5. Kubrat Pulev

Talking of Pulev he is the man that Fury had the opportunity to face but turned down in order to fight Haye. The Bulgarian knocked out Dimitrenko last year and beat Tony Thompson in August and takes his record to 18 wins from 18 bouts. That win over Thompson has earned him a shot at Wladimir Klitschko so Fury’s boat may well have sailed unless he employs some impressive powers of persuasion.

6. Manuel Charr

Charr has just one loss to his name, that being to a Klitschko as he lost to Vitali in 2012 and was scheduled to take on Haye earlier this year till the Englishman pulled out with injury. A running theme? The 28-year-old would be a proper test for Fury is he wanted to take him on although Charr has not had to fight on British soil before.

7. Denis Boytsov

The Russian has a perfect record in his 33 fights knocking out 26 of his opponents but you would be forgiven for not having heard of him as he hasn’t had much hype at all even with that excellent history. To be fair he has not really beaten a big name and at just 6ft 1” he is a very small heavyweight indeed. It would be an interesting bout though and one both men would probably be up for.

8. Robert Helenius

The Nordic Nightmare is another undefeated pro with wins over three Brits in Scott Gammer, Dereck Chisora and Michael Sprott and would be a sensible opponent for Fury. The Finn is not highly rated despite his 19 wins from 19 fights and genuine excuses of injuries in recent fights. It would look very good for the Englishman to have the unbeaten former European champion on his record and it is a match that if Fury has genuine world title ambitions, he should win.

9. Magomed Abdusalamov

Another man with a perfect record from 18 fights and another who has knocked out every single opponent he has faced. 10 of his first 11 fights did not go beyond the first round and he has never gone past the fifth round in his five year pro career. The Russian is ranked ahead of Fury in fourth by the WBC and a win for the Englishman over him would probably be the most impressive of his career.

10. Odlanier Solis

The Cuban is ranked in the top 10 by both the WBC and IBF and has lost just once in 22 fights, that being to Vitali Klitschko. There is no shame in that although it was a fairly embarrassing loss as Solis suffered a knock out in round one thanks to a knee injury. He has recovered with three consecutive wins and claimed the IBF Inter-Continental heavyweight title so would be a good scalp for Fury.