By Sean Jones: WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury posted on social media a coronavirus message warning UK boxing fans to follow British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s instructions to stay indoors to help control the spread of the virus.
Fury (30-0-1, 21 KOs) says he’s training at home with a “few weights” and a treadmill. He wants people to stay at home to lessen the risk of contracting the virus. Unfortunately, people need to shop and in some cases, they still have to work, and it’s difficult to isolate the way they need to.
Earlier on Monday, Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn said that he’ll likely be postponing his May 2 and May 23 cards and that he might need to do the same with his June 20 card. That’s the Anthony Joshua vs. Kubrat Pulev card. While Hearn has backup options for all three of those events, there’s no telling whether those dates will be safe.
Fury warns people to stay indoors
“Good evening, I hope everybody has been staying well and safe and staying indoors,” said Fury on Instagram. “After listening to what the Prime Minister [Boris Johnson] said, I’m taking it deadly serious and should you.
“Let’s fight this virus together as a nation, as a family, as a team, and do the best that we can to help others not get the virus and stay indoors.
“This is very, very important. Listen to Boris. Stay indoors. I’ve had a person bring the gym over to me today. I’ve got a running machine here, weights, a few free weights.
“I’m going to keep fit and post daily videos of myself trying and working out to keep you going and keep me going. As everyone knows, without the gym, I’m finished. Gold bless. Stay safe and stay indoors,” said Fury.
It sounds great that Fury will be doing daily videos of his training. He’s expected to be facing former WBC champion Deontay Wilder in a trilogy fight. They still don’t have a scheduled date for their fight, but it’s supposed to take place by July 18. That date could be impacted by the coronavirus as well.
Fury vs. Wilder 3 at risk of being postponed
It’s not looking good right now that Fury and Wilder will be facing each other in the summer. Like a lot of the boxing cards, it’ll depend on how well the coronavirus is contained. It’s not being contained well in Europe or the U.S.
The President of the United States Donald Trump is counting on the coronavirus disappearing in the summer months. That might be wishful thinking. The 1918 Spanish Flu became even more lethal during August of that year when the virus mutated and began to kill even more rapidly.
Fortunately, the coronavirus isn’t as lethal as the 1918 Spanish Flu, but it might not go away in the summer. If it mutates to a more lethal strain, it’ll be a pure terror.
