Anish Parekh asks: Is Tyson Fury past his peak?
As Tyson Fury readies himself for his all British heavyweight clash with Dillian Whyte, a question on the forefront of my mind continues to nag at me – is Tyson Fury past his peak?
Back in 2015 the Gypsy King dethroned the great and dominant champion of his generation Wladimir Klitschko. Whilst many bemoaned a lack of action and excitement throughout the bout, I was impressed by the unique array of skills displayed by the then 26 year old. His movement and speed complemented perfectly by his nimble agility and athleticism belied a man of his physical stature.
Following his well-documented mental health struggles that led to a prolonged hiatus from boxing, Fury returned to peak form in his rematch with Deontay Wilder in February 2020. However, this was a vastly different version to the Fury that bewildered Klitschko. Still exhibiting excellent speed and agility, he now added additional bulk and adopted a seek and destroy mentality. Wilder didn’t stand a chance as the relentless Fury mauled and bludgeoned him from the 1st round until the 7th when Mark Breland mercifully threw in the towel.
The imperious performance could have signified the start of a new and dominant chapter of the storied heavyweight division, but was halted as the world tackled the threat of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Twenty months elapsed before Fury and Wilder contested in their third fight and it was an instant classic containing numerous knockdowns, swings in momentum and an emphatic conclusion to the bitter rivalry, with Fury knocking out the stubborn Bronze Bomber in the 11th.
Amidst the excitement of that clash, Fury’s performance in comparison to his second fight with Wilder seems to be overlooked. Whilst demonstrating champion levels of resilience and God-given endurance to outlast his emboldened foe, Fury was less impressive than he was 20 months earlier and almost paid the price for it when he suffered two knockdowns in the 4th round. Whilst never claiming to have an aesthetically pleasing physique, he was noticeably more rotund, heavier on his toes and technically less fluid, which at times made for sloppy and inaccurate exchanges with Wilder.
Fury endured a challenging few months prior to his trilogy fight with Wilder, claiming that his poor conditioning was a result of a lack of training due to him supporting his daughter who was in hospital. He also contracted Covid-19 which delayed the original date for his bout with his great rival.
However, could the performance also be a sign that Fury is declining as a fighter? Are the years of boxing, the two years of drink, drugs and junk food during his absence from boxing, the wars with Wilder, and father time simply taking their toll on his body? Does he retain enough motivation to put forward his best effort throughout training to enter the ring in peak condition against his Dillian Whyte, who will surely step into the ring with boundless motivation having waited for years for his opportunity to challenge for the title?
It’s hard to tell and we will know more on Saturday night, however, a sport as rich in history as boxing will often have tales that we can reminisce and reflect upon, helping us to predict out events might unfold.
The most dominant of champions often appear invincible particularly when confronted with perceived lesser talents. However, there have been numerous occasions when they have been usurped by contenders through a variety of reasons that could possibly be affecting Fury. A complacent Muhammad Ali was shockingly defeated by a 7-0 professional novice in Leon Spinks. Riddick Bowe began to descend from his peak the moment he conquered Evander Holyfield and allowed his motivation and discipline to dissipate. Mike Tyson’s wild lifestyle, lack of dedication, and an erosion of his athleticism saw him rapidly diminish as a force following his release from prison.
Will Whyte capitalise on Fury’s potential decline, creating a fascinating seminal moment for the sport, or will the Gypsy King prove his doubters wrong once again to solidify his claim as this generations most revered heavyweight?
On Saturday night the nagging question surrounding Fury’s current ability will be answered and if the decline is dramatic, it could spell for a spectacular result that rocks the boxing world and drastically alters the landscape of the heavyweight division.
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