Tyson Fury v Sefer Seferi

Tyson Fury v Sefer Seferi
Saturday, 9.00pm
Live on BT Sport

Thirty-one months have passed since we last saw Tyson Fury in a boxing ring doing what he does best. The towering Manc beat long-serving champion Wladimir Klitschko to win IBF, IBO, WBA and WBO titles at the ESPRIT Arena, Dusseldorf on November 28th 2015.

It was a result that blew the top division wide-open adding some much-needed interest and drama back to heavyweight boxing and it was supposed to be the start of Tyson Fury's dominance. It wasn't and here we are in June 2018 with the former champion taking on Sefer Seferi, an opponent with a professional record reading 23 1-0.

Fury eager to make up for lost time

We all know what went wrong in Tyson Fury's career and personal life between both training camps but we also know that a fit and healthy Fury still has much to offer the sport despite his time away battling a host of problems including depression.

The 6ft 9inch orthodox boxer has remained very active on social media during preparations for his comeback bout at the Manchester Arena, promising a loyal band of followers he's back in love with the game and eager to take out the likes of Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder who have made hay in his absence.

A record of 25-0-0 makes Tyson an undefeated former champion who didn't lose his titles in the ring and many still view him as the rightful ruler. It remains to be seen just how much harm he has done to his body over the last couple of years but there's no rush to oppose Fury this weekend with the 1.03 available on the Betfair Exchange market best price. That pushes most away from a bet on the fight winner market but Betfair traders offer plenty of specials to help give followers an interest.

Fury brings a 72% knockout average and another KO/TKO win is favourite in the method of victory charts with 1/8 available on the Sportsbook. That's not going to make you rich on its own either. We can't take a lot from the favourite's form due to that spell on the sidelinesbut it's worth mentioning he went the distance last time out and with rival Seferi having never been stopped there will be bits and pieces of interest in a points cheer at 5/1 (Betfair Sportsbook).

Seferi carries an explosive 88% KO average

When little-known Albanian Sefer Seferi hears the first bell in Manchester he'll walk into what will be the 87th round of his professional career. The 39-year-old now based in Burgdorf, Switzerland has won 23 and lost one to date with the spare being a 2016 points decision defeat to German Manuel Charr over 10 rounds for the vacant WBA International title.

Hard-hitting Seferi brings an eye-catching 88% knockout average and carries enough power into this one to ensure he'll have the full respect and attention of Team Fury who will be eager to avoid any potentially career-threatening mistakes. The underdog showed his teeth when returning from that defeat to Charr with a couple of inside-the-distance wins, cutting down Spaniard Marcelo Ferreira dos Santos in five and Hungarian Laszlo Hubert inside two.

A decent response but we won't get too carried away with the wins as a closer look shows the opponents now have a combined 35 defeats on their records. Sefer's stats look good on paper but there's few expecting him to spoil the party. [30} is available on the Exchange or 33/1 (Sportsbook) about a stunning knockout win. Fury has been hurt in the past, but he'll know more than enough to get through this