Tyson Fury’s promoter names Andy Ruiz or Robert Helenius as next likely opponent

WBC heavyweight champion Fury was expected to defend his title against Dillian Whyte, but will now compete in a non-title bout against either Ruiz or Helenius

Video Loading

Video Unavailable

The video will auto-play soon8Cancel

Play now

Tyson Fury and family enjoy holiday in Florida

Tyson Fury is likely to face either Andy Ruiz Jr or Robert Helenius in a non-title bout after his fight with Dillian Whyte fell through.

WBC heavyweight champion Fury was ordered to face Whyte next, but the mandatory challenger’s ongoing arbitration case meant the fight was called off.

Fury’s promoter Bob Arum has since revealed the WBC will allow Fury to compete in a non-title bout next and keep hold of his belt.

And Arum said if Fury fights Helenius it will take place in the UK, but if Ruiz is his opponent it will take place in the US.

“Frank Warren and I are looking for another opponent to do Fury’s fight in Manchester or Las Vegas, depending on who the opponent is,” he told iFL TV.

“So we’re looking at Andy Ruiz as a possibility, he’s available. This big Finnish kid, who looked very good on the Fury vs Wilder 3 card, Helenius.

“Those are the two principal guys. I guess if it’s Helenius we do it in the UK and if it was Ruiz, we do the fight in Las Vegas.

“Fury has endured himself so much to the American fanbase, this Christmas I was up in Aspen and everyone was talking about Tyson Fury and what a character is.”

Ruiz is mostly known for handing Anthony Joshua a shock loss in 2019 to win the unified heavyweight titles.

‘The Destroyer’ was unprepared in his rematch with Joshua and lost the titles just six months after winning them.

Six-foot seven-inch giant Helenius impressed on the undercard of Fury’s trilogy with Deontay Wilder in October, stopping Adam Kownacki for the second time.

Who should Fury fight next, Ruiz or Helenius? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below

And Arum said the location of Fury’s next fight will ultimately be decided by Covid-19 restrictions.

“I’d love to do his next fight in the United States, Frank wants to do a fight for him in the UK and I’m all in with that,” he continued.

“Tyson I think prefers to do his next fight in Manchester, but I really think that we’re gonna have to take a look at the whole situation, the pandemic is the big actor here.

“If it continues, I know [the UK] has shut down all [boxing] in the month of January, and that continue into February and March.

“If that looks like it’s going to happen, I think we’re not gonna shut down in the United States, particularly not Nevada which has a big tourist economy.

“We’re just pressing everybody to get vaccinated so I’ll be talking to Frank and Tyson later this week and we’ll figure out what we’re gonna be doing.”