Tyson Fury vs Dillian Whyte – Civil War
On the National Patron Saints Day of England, there will be 94,000 fight fans filling the national stadium to the rafters to witness a civil war between British boxers Tyson “Gypsy King” Fury (31-0-1, 22KOs) and Dillian “Body Snatcher” Whyte (28-2, 19KOs).
It’s been a strange build-up to such an historic event, with challenger Whyte refusing to show up to any of the pre-fight proceedings, claiming Frank Warren and Queensberry were trying their hardest to create an uneven playing field. So, the champion has enjoyed the limelight all to himself, declaring this as ‘The Tyson Fury Show’.
Without further overtures, as they are simply not needed, here is an extensive analysis into the Fury-Whyte fight this weekend:
Introductions
Tyson Fury: Born prematurely, weighing just 1lbs at birth, it’s fair to say Tyson Luke Fury is a natural born fighter. Born to Irish parents, Amber and John Fury, in Wythenshawe, his family history is steeped in boxing greatness. His father was known as “Gypsy” John Fury in bare-knuckle and unlicensed boxing circles, and even had a pro record of 8-4-1. Relatives Uriah Burton and Bartley Gorman were bare-knuckle boxing legends, both considered “King of the Gypsies”. His uncle Peter trained young Tyson, his half-brother Tommy is an unbeaten pro, and all his cousins box – Hughie Fury; Nathan Gorman; Andy Lee; Hosea Burton.
Dillian Whyte: Much like Tyson, Dillian has also been fighting since birth – for survival. He went from abandonment and homelessness in Jamaica, starving on the streets as a young boy, to treacherous turf wars in South London, where he was repeatedly stabbed and shot, and even imprisoned. An introduction to Miguels Gym in South London basically saved his life.
Amateur Careers
Tyson Fury: A young Fury started boxing at a very early age and won many amateur medals representing both England and Ireland.
He desperately tried to represent Ireland in the Beijing 2008 Olympics but struggled to prove his Irish citizenship so he turned pro after winning the ABA super-heavyweight championships that year instead.
At one point, he was ranked third best heavyweight in the world, and he left his vest behind after 31 wins, four defeats, 26 KOs.
Dillian Whyte: A bit like Fury, Whyte also struggled in his eligibility as an amateur. This was nothing to do with his dual-citizenship though, it’s because he already had a career as a professional kickboxer, winning nine from 10 contests.
His debut amateur bout has already been viewed millions of times on YouTube, when he knocked down and outpointed a young Anthony Joshua. After hospitalising an opponent, he was forced to turn pro by the ABA, and left his short stint in the amateurs with just six wins – five by knockout – and no losses.
Professional Careers
Tyson Fury: Unbeaten in all 32 bouts, Fury’s pro career first started in December 2012 and won his first seven bouts by stoppage. Within a year, he won the English heavyweight title in his eighth fight, taken the distance for the first time in a hard fight with John McDermott. Not completely happy with his performance, Tyson rematched with ‘Big Bad John’ three fights later and stopped him in the ninth to become a two-time English titlist. He won British and Commonwealth belts in his 15th fight, when he defeated Dereck Chisora, when they were both 14-0.
In his US debut, he was felled by a cruiserweight world champion, Steve Cunningham, on his way to winning in the seventh. It was in his 25th contest when he shocked the world with a comfortable points victory over long-reigning, dominant heavyweight champ Wlad Klitschko in his own back yard in Dusseldorf. Then came the well-documented two-and-half-year absence due to depression. After two mis-matched victories to kick off his comeback, Fury was thrust into another world title fight away from home, where he outboxed WBC king Deontay Wilder, but was given a draw on the scorecards after two knockdowns. After teaming up with SugarHill Steward, he adopted the Kronk Gym mentality to KO Wilder twice in a row to become a two-time heavyweight world champion.
Dillian Whyte: A complete novice, Whyte turned pro in 2011 and spent his first four years and 15 fights boxing on the small hall circuit. Remarkably, this period even included a two-year suspension for unknowingly taking a banned substance.
It was in his 16th contest when he was being lined up as an opponent for Anthony Joshua to settle their rivalry, where he won his first title – the WBC International Silver title – boxing at the O2 Arena for the first time. When he did step back in the ring with AJ, it wasn’t repeat, it was revenge in the seventh round, although he did rock AJ earlier in the bout, the first opponent to do so at the time.
He went on to gain notable wins over Dereck Chisora (twice); Robert Helenius; Joseph Parker; Oscar Rivas; and Alexander Povetkin.
Recent Fights
Tyson Fury: Looking at Fury’s last five fights and they were all jam-packed with drama. In December 2018, he dominated the formidable wrecking machine Deontay Wilder, who had 39 KOs from 40 victories. Once again, considered the underdog on away turf, Fury proved everyone wrong, many believing he took this fight on too soon into his sensational comeback. Despite controlling the contest, two knockdowns evened the scales to a draw, but it was the ‘Undertaker-style’ recovery in the final round that shocked the world once more. Two warm-up fights against unbeaten prospects resulted in a confidence-building second round stoppage over German Tom Schwarz, followed by a disastrous points win against Swede Otto Wallin, where a punch caused a cut requiring 47 stitches to his right eye. A real worry for the Wilder rematch.
Having teamed up with Javan Steward at the famous Kronk Gym, Fury steamed in against Wilder, controversially choosing to attack the most feared puncher in the world, and smashed his way through him in seven one-sided rounds. The epic series began with Fury boxing cleverly on the backfoot in the first fight; then choosing all-out aggression and forcing Wilder backwards in the second meeting; the third can only be described as a clash of the titans. Both battled evenly, successfully scoring knockdowns, see-sawing back and forth, until Fury’s strength and stamina took over, and weary Wilder was finally felled in the 11th.
Dillian Whyte: Just like Fury, Whyte’s last two fights ended in KOs, but not the way he would have wanted. ‘The Body Snatcher’s’ most recent fights both came against future Hall of Famer Alexander Povetkin. In their first fight, Whyte scored two knockdowns in the fourth, until a hellacious left uppercut iced him out cold early in the fifth. It was a combination of intelligence from Povetkin and ill-discipline from Whyte for that punch to end the fight.
In the rematch, Whyte was more switched on, with better reflexes and aggression, so he made the adjustments to win in five rounds, albeit against a covid-stricken 40-year-old, who clearly struggled with fitness.
More positively, Whyte’s recent resume is littered with big names, such as former world champion Joseph Parker; then-unbeaten Oscar Rivas; tough Dereck Chisora; and current WBA #3 ranked Robert Helenius. You simply cannot include Lucas Browne as a notable name, despite being a 25-0 former world champ at the time.
Defeats
Tyson Fury: The closest undefeated Tyson has come to defeat was in his draw with Deontay Wilder. Being very critical, his corner got the tactics wrong for that first fight. Yes, going in against the best KO artist in the world requires caution and cleverness, but in that final round, the message from the corner, Ben Davison, was to just get through the last round and you’ve won, which resulted in a disastrious knockout, but fortunately he got back up in dramatic fashion to hear the final bell. SugarHill’s mentality is to go for the knockout in every round, whether that’s round one or round 12, so who’s tactics were more effective?
Dillian Whyte: In his first ever loss to bitter rival Anthony Joshua, Whyte had moments of success, but did look out of his depth at times in there, especially in the opener when AJ battered him from pillar to post and Whyte could only get his punches in after the bell. Admittedly, AJ was well ahead of him at that point in their respective careers, and Dillian sensationally rocked him with a left hook in the second, becoming the first opponent to have any kind of success against him. AJ made him do a funny dance in the seventh, finishing him off with a backhand right uppercut.
In his only other defeat, it was the pesky uppercut that foiled him again; this time it was a short left, and despite it travelling less far, it completely KO’d him out cold.
Styles
Tyson Fury: Backfoot or frontfoot, he can box on both brilliantly. His colossal frame and wingspan allows him to either boss fights from afar with his long reach, or lean down on his opponents, sapping their strength with his sheer size and weight.
He is a natural born fighter, the world’s No.1 heavyweight. The questions that raged on for years of who wins out of Joshua or Fury, are no longer asked because the answer is evident.
Dillian Whyte: Started as a slugger, now more of a boxer-puncher. His left hook is swift and unforgiving; if it lands, it can turn legs to jelly. His aggression and determination to land his hooks makes him a dangerous man. In his early days, he was a bit of a rough and rugged brawler, but he has learnt and progressed under the different trainers he has had, such as Mark Tibbs, who really fine-tuned him, and now he seems to be progressing under Xavier Miller too. Does he have as much in his arsenal as Fury? Absolutely not.
Strength
Tyson Fury: Fury’s KO ratio stands at 68.75%, just higher than Whyte’s because of the two reverses on his opponent’s record.
Whilst Fury doesn’t have a blisteringly fast punch like Joshua has, it’s his relentlessly clubbing, weighty hands that land so accurately so often that eventually force his opponents into submission.
Dillian Whyte: Whyte’s KO ratio is 63.33%, very similar to Fury’s, but the Brixton bomber has one-twos and hooks that can land at speed with substance ton sweep opponents off their feet.
Two of his last four wins have come by KO, whereas Fury has the edge with three from four.
Betting Odds
Fury is the favourite to win at 1/6 with Betway, while Whyte is 9/2 to cause the upset, and the odds for a draw currently placed at 22/1.
Predictions
This preview has been extensive so far, so it’s best to end things as briefly as possible – Tyson Fury to overcome some uncomfortable early moments to win by knockout between rounds four to eight.