Tyson Fury to fight Francesco Pianeta in Belfast as comeback continues

Former WBO, WBA and IBF heavyweight champion Fury - unbeaten in 26 bouts - is on the undercard at Windsor Park on August 18 as Northern Irishman Carl Frampton defends his WBO interim featherweight title against Australia’s Luke Jackson.

Fury returned to the ring after a two-and-a-half year absence when Sefer Seferi retired after four rounds of a one-sided bout in Manchester last month.

33-year-old Pianeta has twice fought for the world title, losing to Wladimir Klitschko and Ruslan Chagaev.

Proomoter Frank Warren expects Fury to encounter a tougher test against Pianeta, who has 21 KOs from 40 fights with 35 wins and four defeats.

“The Seferi fight is history and Pianeta is a far better operator than him. His level of opposition tells you that," said Warren.

“Tyson had been out of boxing for a long time and Pianeta is a good opponent for what is Tyson’s second fight back after his break.

Fury, 29, has won each of his three previous fights in Belfast. The most recent came against Kevin Johnson in December 2012, and last month he said: “Last time I boxed here was six years ago, and it’s always been very welcoming. It’s going to be even more welcoming as a returning world champion.

“I hope this time I’m going to get someone who’s going to have a fight with me, punch me in the face a couple of times, give me a busted nose and a busted mouth.”