Could Tyson Fury's words come back to bite him? Daniel Smith of BBN investigates
‘The mind’s willing, but the body isn’t!’ A quote taken from Tyson Fury’s verbal and psychological trouncing over Wladimir Klitschko during their pre-fight press conference back in 2015. Fury remarked on how the natural effects of the body will eventually catch-up and let you down when you most need it – a dig and something for Dr Steelhammer to chew on, despite his flawless, toned exterior.
A bit ironic looking back now, considering Fury’s nearly three year hiatus and incredible weight ballooning. Yes, Fury has defied everything and everyone – which is wonderful and amazing for him personally as well as the sport. However, I just wonder if that particular comment may come back to haunt him and bite him on the backside as his physical transformations have taken their toll. That said, I think the “Gypsy King” will be Wilder’s toughest test to date.
Tyson Fury
At 6ft 9″ and 18 stone, the former WBA, WBO, IBF, IBO and Lineal champion, Tyson Fury is a dangerous foe to any fighter within the heavyweight division and a man whose adept boxing capabilities and unorthodox, hybrid style is awkward and extremely tricky to overcome.
Fury sports an impressive record of (27-0-0), with nineteen coming back way of knockout. It’s certainly clear Tyson Fury can “bang”, however, he’s not a “banger” per se – unlike the power-punching calibre of Wilder or Whyte and Joshua. Fury (in theory) can and probably should win the bout against Deontay Wilder, deploying his slick movement, neat-graceful footwork, the ability to switch stances and land shots from all angles. Although, as we know, fights are not won theoretically and the cold reality is, Fury’s had a long break from the sport and a showdown with a formidable knock-out merchant, such as Deontay the "Bronze Bomber” Wilder, will possibly test Fury’s calibre and prove whether he has truly returned to the boxer of three years ago.
Deontay Wilder
Wilder – a formidable powerhouse banger who dishes out brutal beat downs like they’re going out of style. A dangerous fighter and certified knockout merchant whose punching power detonates on impact like brass knuckles shattering a glass jaw. A man whose boxing forte is not within the parameters of pugilistic sophistication; nor could he lay claim to any proficient technique or graceful footwork. However, Wilder more than compensates and counters with a raw, brutal strength and a primal-predatory ferocity that detects fighters vulnerabilities and weaknesses, like a shark sensing a mere droplet of blood in miles of ocean before attacking its prey.
A towering 6ft 7″, 15stone 10lbs, physical heavy weight- hybrid whose lanky- skinny legs scaffold a lean and muscled statue that configures a physique that becomes a perilous weapon of mayhem and destruction, throwing a torrent of hard-solid shots, wildly swinging muscly spaghetti-like arms in a frenzied punching onslaught, demolishing and obliterating fighters into a straggled heap.
Who wins?
On paper, the fight is a belter and could potentially be either mans' greatest victory. Fury will have to dismantle Wilder in spectacular fashion; salting and tanging the "Bronze Bomber" with powerful thudding shots – a leathering of a lesson over twelve harsh rounds of boxing in his own back garden. I just hope the fight lives up to expectation and is not a clinching snooze-fest, where apprehension dictates the night.
To sum it up, if Fury can frustrate and punish Wilder from the off, I can see a points win for the lineal champion. However, if nothing from Fury’s ammunition is causing real problems then Wilder will swing away utilising his punchers’ chance and may possibly be the first to knockout Tyson Fury.
The winner will then be propelled into a unification fight with Anthony Joshua in 2019, so the stakes are the highest they have been in the heavyweight divison this millennium! It's exciting to think that next year will see an undisputed heavyweight world champion for the first time since Lennox Lewis defeated Evander Holyfield in 1999. It may have been 20 years but Joshua vs Wilder or Joshua vs Fury will be well worth the wait!
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