Tyson Fury has revealed plans to invite United States President Donald Trump to join him for his ring walk when he faces Anthony Joshua in their highly anticipated heavyweight showdown in Cardiff.
Fury and Joshua are scheduled to meet on December 11 at the Principality Stadium in what will be one of the most anticipated all-British heavyweight contests in recent years.
The former world champions finally came face-to-face at their first official press conference this week, following years of speculation and failed attempts to put the fight together.
Now, Fury has added another potential spectacle to the build-up.
The British heavyweight said he intends to contact Trump and offer him the opportunity to accompany him during his entrance to the ring on fight night.
“I’ll definitely make that offer to my old buddy, old pal, and we’ll see if he’s available,” Fury said.
Fury, however, admitted that securing Trump’s presence could prove difficult because of his responsibilities as president of the United States.
“Probably unlikely because of the situation he’s in at the moment, being the President of the United States,” he added.
The potential appearance would add another layer of attention to an already high-profile event. Fury has previously shown his support for Trump and made a surprise appearance at the UFC Freedom 250 event held at the White House earlier this year.
The December fight itself has taken years to materialise. Fury and Joshua have been linked with one another for much of their professional careers, but negotiations repeatedly stalled over venue, promotional arrangements and other terms.
That wait finally ended in September when the December 11 Cardiff date was confirmed. The Principality Stadium will host the all-British heavyweight encounter, with both fighters entering the contest as former world champions.
Fury has already started turning up the verbal intensity ahead of the contest.
Speaking after the latest press conference, he described Joshua as a “warm-up” for a potential third fight against Oleksandr Usyk, against whom Fury has suffered two defeats. He also insisted that he has no intention of retiring after facing Joshua.
Joshua, meanwhile, has remained focused on his own preparation and has recently been working with trainer Ben Davison. Their first face-off was notably calmer than some of the heated exchanges that have characterised the rivalry in the past.
The fight will take place inside the 80,000-capacity Principality Stadium, giving Fury the opportunity to make his entrance in front of a huge home crowd.
Whether Trump will actually be in Cardiff remains uncertain. Fury has made clear that the invitation will be extended, but the American president’s official responsibilities could prevent him from accepting it.
For now, the proposed ring walk is another storyline surrounding a fight that has already generated enormous attention before either man has thrown a punch.
The real spectacle, however, will begin when Fury and Joshua finally enter the ring and the long-awaited “Battle of Britain” moves from years of talk to action.
