Fury returns against argentine puncher Basile

Heavyweight sensation Tyson Fury (right) will take on Argentine puncher Gonzalo Omar Basile at the Copper Box Arena on Saturday 15th February.

Fury features on the big multi-title show – headlined by his rival and European Champion Dereck Chisora – in a ten-round International contest, live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Ch. 437/Virgin Ch. 546).

The heavily tattooed Basile, from Buenos Aires, is a veteran of 70 fights with 23 championship title fights in a near ten-year career. The 39-year-old, who has 61 wins and 28 knockouts, is the reigning IBF Latino Champion, winning the title last year with a seventh round stoppage of Victor Dario Gimenez and defending against Alfredo Diaz in December.

Fury, who’s unbeaten in 21 fights with 15 knockouts, hasn’t fought since his thrilling seven-round shoot-out against Steve Cunningham in April last year in his US debut. Coming back from a second round knockdown, Fury stormed back to knockout Cunningham with a blockbuster right hook in the seventh round – the first time the American had ever been stopped.

Standing at 6ft 6in, Basile is slightly shorter than the 6ft 9in Fury and the 25-year-old from Wilmslow is looking forward to landing his big power shots to rack up another KO win.

Fury said, “It’s been a while, but I’m looking forward to getting in the ring again and showing the world that Tyson Fury is back in action and on course for the world title”.

“I wouldn’t say that rust has set in because I haven’t fought, I’m always training and in the gym sparring, but I’m now desperate to get in the ring at the Copper Box Arena in front of a big electric crowd and do what I was born and bred to do, fight and win.

“Basile looks good, he’s experienced with seventy fights and has fought in plenty of title fights. He’s seen a lot in his career against the likes of Alexander Dimitrenko and Artur Szpilka, but he’s never seen a man like Tyson Fury before”.

“He’s just a few inches shorter than me which is great because I’ve been fighting shorter men, he’ll be near my height and once I work out the range and timing, those big right hands will be detonating on his jaw”.

Dereck Chisora is main attraction on the show in a defence of his European Heavyweight title. Chief support sees super-middleweight star Frank Buglioni defend his WBO European title against Gaetano Nespro, plus Bradley Skeete in a showdown against former world champion Vivian Harris for the Vacant WBA Intercontinental Welterweight title. An all star line up features former amateur star and unbeaten pro Thomas Stalker, Tyson Fury’s cousin and undefeated heavyweight sensation Hughie Fury, plus top talents Lewis Pettitt, Georgie Kean, Billy Morgan and Steve Collins Jnr.

Tickets for Rock The Box III, priced at £40, £50, £70 and £120, are available from Eventim on 0844 249 1000 or online at www.eventim.co.uk

Watch live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Ch. 437/Virgin Ch. 546). Join at www.boxnation.com