Tyson Fury took care of business with the minimum of fuss as he dispatched Mariusz Wach in a low-key contest in Thailand on Friday night – before attention quickly shifted to what is next.
Daily Mail Sport understands the former heavyweight world champion is expected to board a flight to Jeddah after the victory, with Saudi organisers Sela arranging travel in the hope Fury will be in attendance for Anthony Joshua’s return against Kristian Prenga on Saturday night.
Fury stopped Wach inside seven rounds of a schedule 10 to emerge victorious on Friday evening, with the Polish fighter retiring on his stool.
The fight – not carried by any major broadcaster – is understood to have been one-sided, with Fury connecting with five uppercuts in a row in the fifth round.
Fury was always expected to come through unscathed against Wach, ranked outside the world’s top 200, in what was widely viewed as a stay-busy fight ahead of the biggest assignment of his comeback.
Tyson Fury emerges for the untelevised bout in Pattaya, Thailand
Fury dispatched Wach inside seven rounds in a dominant display
The contest itself attracted little attention compared to a usual Fury fight week but it served its purpose by allowing Fury to continue building momentum before his proposed showdown with Joshua later this year.
The event also raised funds for the Father Ray Foundation, with all the gate receipts from a 1,500 crowd donated to the Pattaya-based charity, which has spent more than 40 years supporting orphans, children with disabilities and underprivileged young people across Thailand.
The focus now turns to whether the Gypsy King will make the trip to Saudi Arabia.
Daily Mail Sport understands Sela have made arrangements for Fury to fly directly from Thailand to Jeddah, where Joshua returns to action on Saturday in his first fight since the devastating car crash that claimed the lives of two friends and members of his close team.
Joshua has described the tragedy as the toughest period of his life and has vowed to continue the work and ambitions of those he lost, while also pledging long-term financial support to their families. His return against Prenga therefore represents far more than simply another outing inside the ring.
Whether Fury and Joshua come face-to-face this weekend, however, remains uncertain.
Fury and Wach were clashing ahead of Fury’s proposed megafight with Anthony Joshua
Fury takes the plaudits at the end of the bout, which
… and celebrates in the ring having extended his career record to 36 wins from 39 fights
Fury has insisted in recent interviews that he had no plans to attend the event, despite speculation gathering throughout fight week that he would make the journey after boxing in Thailand.
One possible explanation is what unfolded following Fury’s victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov earlier this year.
Joshua, who had been ringside, opted against climbing into the ring afterwards as the contract hadn’t been officially signed, meaning the much-anticipated first face-off between Britain’s two biggest heavyweight stars never materialised.
Fury may now be taking a similar approach, choosing not to hand Joshua the moment after his own comeback, despite the paperwork being done.
Even so, there remains hope behind the scenes that the pair will finally share a stage should Joshua come through safely against Prenga.
