Tyson Fury to start comeback against 39-year-old Seferi

Former British heavyweight world boxing champion Tyson Fury (L) poses for a photograph with promoter Frank Warren at a press conference to publicise his return to the ring at the Lowry Hotel in Manchester, north-west England on April 26, 2018.
Tyson Fury says he could beat reigning world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder with “a hand tied behind my back” as the British fighter nears his comeback after more than two years out of the ring. / AFP PHOTO / OLI SCARFF

LONDON — Tyson Fury will launch his comeback against 39-year-old Albanian Sefer Seferi, his promoter Frank Warren announced Sunday.

The former IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight champion finally returns to the ring at the Manchester Arena on June 9 after an absence of more than 2 1/2 years, and in Seferi fights an opponent who is a career cruiserweight.

Seferi has lost only once, at heavyweight against Manuel Charr in September 2016, and he has been significantly more active than Fury, fighting four times since Fury defeated Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015.

He represents the type of opponent Fury and his new promoter Warren have targeted since next month’s date was confirmed.

Seferi is expected to be durable without posing a significant threat, giving the 29-year-old Fury the chance to shed some of the ring-rust that will have accumulated over the course of their scheduled 10 rounds. He will also be his first opponent since working with new trainer Ben Davison following his split from uncle Peter Fury.

Tyson Fury and Warren plan for him to fight at least twice more before the conclusion of 2018, in an attempt to continue to build the stamina he has worked on since gaining and losing so much weight while he struggled with depression.