Tyson Fury hopes to win Intercontinental title in Bristol

Heavyweight hope Tyson Fury hopes to take a step closer to a world title fight when he faces America’s Vinny Maddalone in Clevedon tonight (Saturday).

The reigning Irish Heavyweight Champion hopes that winning the WBO Intercontinental title will increase his chances of challenging Wladimir Klitschko who holds the WBO World title.

Fury scaled 17st 7 &1/2 lbs at yesterday’s weigh-in at Cabot Circus in Bristol. New Yorker Maddalone tipped the scales at 16st 8 & ½ lbs.

Maddalone, who boasts 35 wins out of 43 fights has previously fought elite fighters Evander Holyfield, Tomasz Adamek and Jean Marc Mormeck. This is his first fight in the UK.

Fury is undefeated in 18 pro contests and has been mentioned by Klitschko as one of his most likely challengers in the next 12 months., but first he must overcome Maddalone and impress a worldwide TV audience if he is to realise his dream of fighting for the world title.

The chief supporting contest at the Hand Arena features Bristol’s Lee Haskins who challenges former British champion Stuart Hall for the vacant European Bantamweight title. Haskins, who scaled 8st 5lbs 4ozs, is hoping that hometown advantage will give him the edge. It is his first title fight in the west country since he won the Commonwealth Flyweight title at Whitchurch Sports Centre in 2006.