Simon Jordan mocks Tyson Fury's '147-year-old' opponent
Simon Jordan has mocked Tyson Fury's July 24 comeback opponent Mariusz Wach on talkSPORT, sarcastically calling the 46-year-old Polish veteran "147 years old" and dismissing the Pattaya bout as a "gimmick" and "sparring session" rather than a meaningful heavyweight fight before Fury's proposed Anthony Joshua clash. The former Crystal Palace owner joined a talkSPORT Boxing panel that debated whether the matchup deserves serious attention or is simply tune-up theatre.
Key Takeaways
- Simon Jordan ridiculed Mariusz Wach as "147 years old" and said the fight looks like "a gimme" on talkSPORT.
- Tyson Fury faces Wach on July 24 at Max Muay Thai Stadium in Pattaya, one day before Anthony Joshua's July 25 warm-up bout.
- The fight will not be broadcast live; Netflix is filming footage for season 3 of At Home with the Furys.
- talkSPORT confirmed a five-fight undercard, with Daniel Baer vs Simon Ibekwe as chief support.
- Wach has won only three of his last 10 fights and was knocked out in two rounds by Moses Itauma in December 2024.
Why did Simon Jordan mock Tyson Fury's opponent?
Jordan reacted sharply after Queensberry Promotions confirmed that Tyson Fury would fight Mariusz Wach on July 24 in Pattaya, Thailand — one day before Anthony Joshua returns against Kristian Prenga.
"Listen, drum roll. After the show last week, we got the revelatory news that Tyson Fury is going to be fighting 147-year-old Mariusz Wach, a fellow that's been beaten by everybody," Jordan told talkSPORT Boxing.
After the panel noted Wach's recent record, Jordan branded the matchup "a gimme" and "a gimmick," adding that it looked more like "a sparring session" than a meaningful heavyweight contest. He also questioned why charity proceeds could not go to an orphanage in England instead of Thailand.
Where is Tyson Fury fighting Mariusz Wach?
The bout moves Fury from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — where he headlined in front of more than 75,000 people three months ago — to Max Muay Thai Stadium on Sukhumvit Road in Pattaya, an arena that holds around 2,000 and normally hosts weekly Muay Thai cards.
According to The Thaiger, Fury is fighting without a purse, with net ticket proceeds going to the Father Ray Foundation. Roughly 1,500 tickets went on sale in early July, priced at 10,000 and 15,000 baht.
The WBC has signed off on the charitable framing and will present Fury with its inaugural Humanitarian Title. For more on how streaming platforms reshape live sports access, see our Future Tech & AI Wonders coverage.
Can fans watch the Fury vs Wach fight live?
No. The fight will not be shown live anywhere. Netflix cameras will be ringside only to film footage for the third season of At Home with the Furys.
Jordan seized on that detail, joking it "probably couldn't" air on television because it would need to be "under the Trade Descriptions Act posing as a fight." The only people who will see the bout as it happens are those inside the stadium.
What does the confirmed undercard look like?
talkSPORT reported that organizers confirmed a five-fight undercard for the Anthony Joshua tune-up event. A heavyweight bout between Germany's Daniel Baer (15-1-1) and England's Simon Ibekwe (6-0) acts as chief support.
The rest of the bill features showcase fights for Michael Flannery (14-1), Lucas Dassios (1-0), Mark Ahondjo (1-0-1) and Arlo Stephens (2-0). Organizers have tentatively pencilled a Fury-Joshua clash for November, contingent on both men winning their respective warm-ups.
Former world champion Johnny Nelson argued the Wach fight is simply a tune-up before Joshua, but Jordan was not convinced. With Wach opening as a 100/1 underdog with some bookmakers, the debate over opponent quality may overshadow whatever happens inside the ring.