NEW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT champion Tyson Fury wants to bring boxing back to Croke Park.
Following his shock title win on Saturday night Fury’s first defence is expected to be against the man he dethroned, Wladimir Klitschko, with a Wembley date next summer the most likely date for their agreed rematch.
But Fury, who has Irish roots and boxed for Ireland as an amateur, has revealed his dream of fighting in front of 80,000 in GAA headquarters.
“I don’t know if (Klitschko) is going to take the rematch or not,” the 27-year-old told Today with Sean O’Rourke on RTÉ Radio 1.
“There is a contract to say that he’s entitled to a rematch so the rematch clause has got to be fulfilled. I don’t know where it’s going to be.
I’ve always said that I’d like to fight at Croke Park so maybe that can be a reality one day.
“I always said that there’s a couple of venues in the world that I wanted to box in. One of them is Madison Square Garden — I’ve done that one; one of them is Old Trafford, Manchester United — I’ve not done that one; and the other is Croke Park.”
Fury went into Saturday’s showdown with Klitschko as a massive underdog, and was reported to have placed a £200,000 bet on himself to cause an upset in Dusseldorf.
The Manchester native denied that, saying: “To be honest, I’m not a gambling man. It was all a bit of propaganda for the newspapers.”
He also revealed that he refused to eat or drink anything in the immediate aftermath of his unanimous decision win as he feared there could be an attempt to spike him with a banned substance.
I was told by very good authority not to drink anything in the changing rooms, not to touch anything or eat anything from anybody, because as this level it only takes one little sip of something that you shouldn’t have and you’re banned.
“I was very cautious of someone giving me something after the fight. When you’re all in a good mood and the blood’s pumping, you just take something off somebody and you drink it and eat it because you need it.
“I was dehydrated a lot by the time I got back to the hotel but I waited until I got back there just in case. Prevention is better than cure, isn’t it?”
Although born and bred in Manchester, Fury has Irish Traveller heritage, and boxed for both England and Ireland at amateur level until a failed bid to represent Ireland at the 2008 Olympics encouraged him to turn professional.
He now identifies as British-Irish, he explained, and believes that he is both Britain’s eighth world heavyweight champion — and Ireland’s first.
“My father was born in Galway, along with the rest of my father’s family who are from the west of Ireland.
“My grandmother on my mother’s side was born in Belfast, Nutt’s Corner, and I’ve lots of relatives over there. I’m over there quite regularly visiting.
“I boxed for Ireland as an amateur. I boxed in the Irish senior championships. I went to America for Ireland and won a fight, and I boxed Ireland versus Poland and won two fights.
Like I said in the press conference, I’m the first Irish heavyweight champion of the world.
“I would describe myself (as British-Irish) to be honest,” he added.
“I wouldn’t say I’m Irish born and bred because that would just be lying. I’m born and bred in Manchester in England but people who know me know I’ve been back and forward to Ireland for a long, long time.”
Fair play to him, he isn’t the best boxer but he devised the best game plan to beat klitsckho. Hopefully he has some more entertaining fights in the future and puts a bit of excitement back into the heavyweight division. Joshua and wilder are good fighters, and will be tough prospects for fury
Had never seen Joshua fight until the build up to the Fury fight when I had heard his name mentioned a lot of times. He looks to be a different animal to these guys and if things go well for him he could dominate the sport for a while but he needs a few fights that go a little longer. At the moment I believe he’s never gotten past the third round and that only happened because he decided to let it run a little longer.
I have seen most of Joshua’s fights and follow his Facebook page, the man is machine and the training videos he puts up on Facebook are next gen but Wilder is unbeaten in 35 fights with 34 ko’s, so he is no slouch either.
Joshua is hype at the moment, we will see when he steps up, everyone was banging on about David Price a few years ago and real boxing fans knew he was a big puncher and nothing else, I reckon Joshua will be found out when he steps it up, big body builder is all he is.
He fought 34 bums though.
Wilder has no chin. The second he gets hit by a proper punching heavyweight he will hit the canvas and not get up. Typical heavy handed heavyweight with a glass jaw.
You’re alright Tyson….we don’t want you thanks
Because you can decide where he feels he represents.
That’s clear, sure we’re constantly happy to export our traveller “problem”
I think its more because of his incredibly offsensive comments towards gay people, equating them to pedophiles, that I wouldent feel comfortable with him flying an Irish flag everywhere he went.
Travellers don’t keep birth certs that’s why I think he couldn’t find any probably born in a caravan truth be told. Fury would outbox Joshua handy. Joshua has only fought bin men and was stopped a few times as an amateur . All the casuals think Joshua is the next Mike Tyson haha .
Irish blood English heart. Fair play
If his father was born in Galway how was he not eligible to represent Ireland at the Olympics?
Doesn’t say he wasn’t eligible Dave just that he had a failed bid, there was possibly some politics at play but perhaps he just wasn’t deemed good enough at the time.
No it was due to lack of a Birth Cert if my memory serves me correctly
I’m not questioning it I’m just curious
Was he the Irish Champion at the time.? Was there someone else that had qualified in the Heavyweight class? . Can only bring 1 boxer per weight.
Croke Park? He wouldn’t fill the Nally Stand!
Heavyweight Champion of the World defending his title?! We’d be all over it like a rash!
You honestly think he could sell out 80,000 plus? Not a chance. Promoters wouldn’t even consider it, they know a British fighter wouldn’t get the crowd in Ireland. No matter how much he claims to be Irish its still God Save the Queen that plays before his fights! Andy Lee an actual Irish world champ could even fill Thomand Park.
Couldn’t fill Thomand Park*
Also, I don’t mean to sound anti-British I mean it as in that’s who he actually represents when he fights regardless of what he identifies as. Andy Lee is actually his cousin and both born in Manchester (Andy moving to Limerick later) but its Ireland he represents as in he flies the Irish flag and plays the anthem and doesn’t say ‘oh by the way I’m also British’ to try expand his market and make an extra bit of money.
In 1896 Peter Maher became the first Irish world heavy champion, born in kilbannon co, galway.
Dan Donnelly was before him no?
Dan Donnelly was Irish champion not world champion… Maher was the first irish born heavyweight world champion…
I thought he was from the U.S! Ah well……
He’ll be Irish if he Loses British if he keeps winning according to the bbc
Yawn
John L. Sullivan not from Kerry??
John L was born in Boston 1858
Thanks Derek