HUGHIE FURY says he is ready to fight the likes of Anthony Joshua.

The heavyweight – cousin to ex-champion Tyson – had a hat-trick of return fights in 2024 after three years out the ring amid health issues.

Now names like Zhilei Zhang and Filip Hrgovic join AJ on the list of opponents Fury wants to face.

He told The Ring Magazine: “God’s got a plan and I believe this is the destiny now and I’ve not had the easiest route – with the health issues and all of that I’ve had the hardest route in the world – but I believe now is the right time.

“I’m only one fight away, just get the right fight and I’ll be there.

“I’d like anyone, I’d like all these fights, I’d like the Zhang fight, I’d like the Joshua fight.

“Even Hrgovic, I’d like him. All of these fights, hopefully I’d get.”

Fury, 30, beat Christian Thun, 33, in his last bout in September and returns on Friday night at York Hall against a yet-to be named opponent.

And he said: “I believe people haven’t seen a fraction of my ability and I’m looking forward to this year to showing it.

“There’s a lot different. Even with the last fight, it was just getting the cobwebs off and stuff.

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“Talk’s cheap. I just can’t wait now to put it all in action. I’ve got so many different styles that people I haven’t seen and I’m looking forward now to put it all into practice.”

Fury challenged for the WBO title in 2017 but lost a controversial decision to Joseph Parker in Manchester.

Hughie Fury shows what he is made of in the training ring

FUR REAL

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But he has six wins on the spin now and believes he is in line for big fights after signing a deal with Izzy Asif’s GBM Sports.

Fury said: “Izzy’s a good friend of my dad’s as well so he’s promised us. I believe he’ll keep to his word and we’ll get these big fights in.

“Yeah, I do believe in God’s got a destiny and I believe this is my right time now.”

The draft is three weeks away now. GM Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson have pieced together an off-season that is earning widespread praise across the league. The question is whether they can stick the landing with their 1st round pick in the draft. Current projections have the top three picks likely being a mix of Cam Ward, Travis Hunter, and Abdul Carter. After that, it gets tricky. People in Chicago want to know where running back Ashton Jeanty will end once the dust settles.

Widespread belief has been that the Las Vegas Raiders are the heavy favorites to take him at 6th overall, with New Orleans at #9 also being a possibility. It makes sense. Las Vegas’ best option right now is a 33-year-old Raheem Mostert. New Orleans knows Alvin Kamara turns 30 in July. Both teams need to think about the future at that position. Both have head coaches who like to run the ball. One thing is clear. A source told SM that those around the league believe one thing is certain.

“He likely won’t get passed Chicago if he falls that far.”

Ashton Jeanty is a strong probability for the Bears.

Whispers from Halas Hall indicate they love the Boise State star. It isn’t hard to see why. He nearly broke Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing record in 2024, nearly winning the Heisman in the process. The guy carried his team to the college football playoffs. He’s built like a brick house with power, speed, contact balance, and vision. There aren’t any truly glaring weaknesses in his game. He’s earned comparisons to the likes of LaDainian Tomlinson and Marshawn Lynch. The Bears haven’t had a back of that caliber since Matt Forte.

Try to imagine what this offense could look like with Ashton Jeanty, Rome Odunze, D.J. Moore, and Cole Kmet all as options for quarterback Caleb Williams. Throw all of it into Johnson’s offense, and you can understand why some people around the league aren’t wild about the idea. They are quietly hoping Jeanty goes somewhere else. One thing is certain. If he gets past the Raiders, the noise will get loud in a hurry. It would mark the first time in 20 years the Bears have taken a running back in the 1st round.