Wednesday 17 December 2014 14:44, UK
Tyson Fury says he is "a million per cent convinced" Wladimir Klitschko will vacate a world title rather than fight him.
Last month's one-sided win over Dereck Chisora made Fury the mandatory challenger for Klitschko's WBO heavyweight belt, and the Mancunian's team are desperate to lure the Ukrainian to the United Kingdom next summer.
Promoter Frank Warren's attempt to bring the contest forward to March fell on deaf ears, and Fury will keep busy with an interim fight on February 28 against an as-yet unnamed opponent.
Kilitcshko is due to defend his three world titles the following month, and Warren will then try to hammer out a deal with the 38-year-old's camp, but Fury said: "I don't think Wladimir will fight me. If he does it's a miracle.
It's going to be quite embarrassing for Wladimir Klitschko if he decides he's not going to fight. He'll have to vacate the title. That would not put him in a good place with boxing fans.
"I'm a million per cent convinced this fight ain't going to happen. I don't care what the promoters say, I've looked in his eyes and I saw fear. I know he's not going to fight me."
Warren said: "I wrote to Wladimir Klitschko's camp, saying 'why don't we cut through all this, go to March and get the fight on?'. I've not had any response from them, which is a great shame.
"We'll just have to keep Tyson busy. He's going to fight on February 28 at the O2 Arena in London and he'll fight a world-ranked opponent to keep himself fighting fit and match fit, so he's prepared and ready for Wladimir Klitschko after his March fight.
"It's going to be quite embarrassing for Wladimir Klitschko if he decides he's not going to fight. He'll have to vacate the title. That would not put him in a good place with boxing fans. We all want to see the best fighting the best and Tyson, without a doubt, is the best challenger out there.
"He's undefeated. He had quite an impressive performance last time out and if Wladimir ducks him and fights another hand-picked opponent I think he'll go well down in boxing fans' estimation."
Fury remains certain he would beat Klitschko. He said: "If it does happen he'll get knocked out after seven, eight rounds, after being involved in a bit of a brawl. He's old, he gets tired fast and I'll knock him out for sure, and when I do I'll unify the division against Bermane Stiverne or Deontay Wilder."
