Boxing: Tyson Fury sets sights on breaking Joe Louis’ heavyweight title record

Tyson Fury has set himself the ambitious target of breaking the record of 25 world heavyweight title defences set by Joe Louis as he prepares for his comeback to boxing.

The former unified world champion has not stepped into a ring competitively since defeating Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015, battling problems with mental health and drugs ever since.

The 29-year-old has been nearing a ring return in recent months as he attempts to regain his boxing licence and has posted a number of videos of himself on social media shedding the pounds with new trainer Ben Davison.

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Fury receiving his licence hinges upon him passing a medical after accepting a backdated two-year suspension following a positive test for nandrolone, and he is still lacking a return date, venue or opponent, but that has not altered his end goal.

“I've just set myself a goal of beating the great Joe Louis' record of 25 title defences,” Fury said on his Instagram page. “Wladimir Klitschko almost beat Joe Louis' record until I beat him. Even if I have three fights a year, I've beaten him.

“It's a hard challenge but I've never set a challenge I didn't make. If anyone is capable of doing it, I'm capable.”

Fury has already called out two of the three champions of the heavyweight division in Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua, with the latter putting his belts on the line in a unification fight with Joseph Parker on 30 April.