Tyson Fury is the new WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion. After beating Wladimir Klitschko in a unanimous points decision, Fury beat the odds and the man that most said was unbeatable. While I wanted to see a Fury victory and another British champion, admittedly, I didn’t call it and thought he’d lose on a points decision despite a spirited effort. It was clear that Fury was coming to fight and was probably the most live opponent Klitschko has faced in years. But beyond catching Klitschko with a clean shot (Wladimir Klitschko is notoriously chinny) and getting a stoppage, I struggled to see a Fury win in Germany, the adopted home of the Klitschko brothers. Nor could I see how Fury would get past Klitschko’s jab. Yet Fury, full of self-belief, proved me and most boxing commentators wrong.
At no point in the build-up during the fight did Fury seem fazed by the occasion or in awe of Klitschko. Even with Team Klitschko’s usual tricks that seek to unnerve an opponent and give themselves a psychological edge, Fury remained calm. The palaver over the gloves and the ring canvas couldn’t shake Fury and he remained composed throughout. Even if the result had been different, for Fury, a win was the only conclusion.
Fury was up on my scorecard but a points win for an away fighter in Germany is almost unprecedented. Klitschko initiated a clinch repeatedly and constantly turned his head, the latter for which Fury was deducted a point for hitting in the back of the head. Although at no point was Klitschko penalised. It seemed that it was a typical Klitschko show where the W was theirs even before the first bell as a blind eye was turned against all of Wladimir’s misdemeanours in the ring. As I waited for the scorecards to be read, I expected the following day’s headlines to be of Fury being cheated in Dusseldorf, not of a well-deserved victory. I guess the judges didn’t get Team Klitschko’s memo.
Not to taint Fury’s win, let’s get the negativity out of the way early doors. Firstly, the fight was a borefest. Furthermore, Father Time seemed to have caught up with Klitschko. Though that shouldn’t detract from Fury’s achievement. He’s beaten the man that no one has beaten since 2004. Fury therefore deserves all the kudos that will hopefully now be heaped upon him. And with it, it marks a new day in heavyweight boxing.
Once the most prestigious and coveted prize in sport, the heavyweight boxing championship has become a hollow title that has increasingly failed to capture the attention of those outside of boxing. In the last decade, respective heavyweight champions have largely been unknown outside of boxing circles and even with their lengthy dominance of the division, the Klitschko brothers are largely household names only in Germany and eastern Europe.
The excitement that used to characterise the heavyweight division has been lost and replaced with the boring yet effective ‘jab and grab’ style of the Klitschkos. Their safety first approach has turned even boxing fans off from the division as it’s failed to quench our thirst for knockouts and gladiatorial battle between some of the biggest and strongest athletes in sport. Although with Vitali Klitschko retired and Wladimir Klitschko defeated after an eleven-year span of not seeing an L on his record, it provides the opening for all that we love about heavyweight boxing to return. An end to the closed shop operated by the Klitschkos.
Klitschko has said he’ll exercise the rematch clause in the contract and perhaps he will. As an athlete and a former champion, defeat will be hard to swallow and a rematch provides an opportunity to address that. Not to mention his contract with German broadcaster RTL provides a sizeable revenue stream. However, it was evident from his fight with Fury that Klitschko has peaked and now provides the ideal opportunity to bow out with an honourable defeat and a solid record.
Klitschko should have no shame in defeat and should call it a day rather than fight on with each subsequent fight showing a decline in his speed and movement. But Klitschko is a fighter and an athlete; relinquishing the attitude that comes with that is always hard for any athlete at the peak of their sport. Prior to their fight in The Gloves Are Off, Klitschko remarked that it’s “better to be dead than second”, an attitude that embodies his fighter’s mentality and one that could only be understood by an athlete that has trained with the sole objective of victory. The fighter is still within him but Father Time has already begun to cast his shadow over Klitschko and now is the time to walk away as a former great champion. As one of the most intelligent men in boxing, he also has far more opportunities open to him than many of his peers once he decides to hang up his gloves.
If Klitschko doesn’t exercise the rematch clause, or if he does but faces defeat again against Fury, the heavyweight division is wide open. Brash American Deontay Wilder, the holder of the WBC heavyweight title, has already called out Fury in a fight that would finally reignite American interest in the division. David Haye has already announced his comeback and assuming he still has the speed and explosive punching power he had prior to his three and a half year layoff, he’s certainly in the mix as a title challenger and one that would beat Fury. He’s also got the psychological edge against Wilder after schooling him in sparring. The big ‘if’ is of course how good Haye still is which will be unknown until his comeback fight. Anthony Joshua is probably looking at Fury as a fast-tracked route to a world title and if he proves himself to be the real deal, the heavyweight division could soon be alive again.
Many might not have seen Tyson Fury as the boxer to resuscitate the heavyweight boxing division and it still remains to be seen if he will. Nonetheless, he’s provided the first opportunity to end the Klitschkos’ reign and to usher in a new era of the excitement that boxing fans once relished in heavyweight boxing. Hopefully heavyweight boxing is back and its unlikely saviour Tyson Fury should be applauded for opening the gate that has remained locked for well over a decade.
At no point in the build-up during the fight did Fury seem fazed by the occasion or in awe of Klitschko. Even with Team Klitschko’s usual tricks that seek to unnerve an opponent and give themselves a psychological edge, Fury remained calm. The palaver over the gloves and the ring canvas couldn’t shake Fury and he remained composed throughout. Even if the result had been different, for Fury, a win was the only conclusion.
Fury was up on my scorecard but a points win for an away fighter in Germany is almost unprecedented. Klitschko initiated a clinch repeatedly and constantly turned his head, the latter for which Fury was deducted a point for hitting in the back of the head. Although at no point was Klitschko penalised. It seemed that it was a typical Klitschko show where the W was theirs even before the first bell as a blind eye was turned against all of Wladimir’s misdemeanours in the ring. As I waited for the scorecards to be read, I expected the following day’s headlines to be of Fury being cheated in Dusseldorf, not of a well-deserved victory. I guess the judges didn’t get Team Klitschko’s memo.
 |
Once the most prestigious and coveted prize in sport, the heavyweight boxing championship has become a hollow title that has increasingly failed to capture the attention of those outside of boxing. In the last decade, respective heavyweight champions have largely been unknown outside of boxing circles and even with their lengthy dominance of the division, the Klitschko brothers are largely household names only in Germany and eastern Europe.
The excitement that used to characterise the heavyweight division has been lost and replaced with the boring yet effective ‘jab and grab’ style of the Klitschkos. Their safety first approach has turned even boxing fans off from the division as it’s failed to quench our thirst for knockouts and gladiatorial battle between some of the biggest and strongest athletes in sport. Although with Vitali Klitschko retired and Wladimir Klitschko defeated after an eleven-year span of not seeing an L on his record, it provides the opening for all that we love about heavyweight boxing to return. An end to the closed shop operated by the Klitschkos.
Klitschko has said he’ll exercise the rematch clause in the contract and perhaps he will. As an athlete and a former champion, defeat will be hard to swallow and a rematch provides an opportunity to address that. Not to mention his contract with German broadcaster RTL provides a sizeable revenue stream. However, it was evident from his fight with Fury that Klitschko has peaked and now provides the ideal opportunity to bow out with an honourable defeat and a solid record.
Klitschko should have no shame in defeat and should call it a day rather than fight on with each subsequent fight showing a decline in his speed and movement. But Klitschko is a fighter and an athlete; relinquishing the attitude that comes with that is always hard for any athlete at the peak of their sport. Prior to their fight in The Gloves Are Off, Klitschko remarked that it’s “better to be dead than second”, an attitude that embodies his fighter’s mentality and one that could only be understood by an athlete that has trained with the sole objective of victory. The fighter is still within him but Father Time has already begun to cast his shadow over Klitschko and now is the time to walk away as a former great champion. As one of the most intelligent men in boxing, he also has far more opportunities open to him than many of his peers once he decides to hang up his gloves.
If Klitschko doesn’t exercise the rematch clause, or if he does but faces defeat again against Fury, the heavyweight division is wide open. Brash American Deontay Wilder, the holder of the WBC heavyweight title, has already called out Fury in a fight that would finally reignite American interest in the division. David Haye has already announced his comeback and assuming he still has the speed and explosive punching power he had prior to his three and a half year layoff, he’s certainly in the mix as a title challenger and one that would beat Fury. He’s also got the psychological edge against Wilder after schooling him in sparring. The big ‘if’ is of course how good Haye still is which will be unknown until his comeback fight. Anthony Joshua is probably looking at Fury as a fast-tracked route to a world title and if he proves himself to be the real deal, the heavyweight division could soon be alive again.
Many might not have seen Tyson Fury as the boxer to resuscitate the heavyweight boxing division and it still remains to be seen if he will. Nonetheless, he’s provided the first opportunity to end the Klitschkos’ reign and to usher in a new era of the excitement that boxing fans once relished in heavyweight boxing. Hopefully heavyweight boxing is back and its unlikely saviour Tyson Fury should be applauded for opening the gate that has remained locked for well over a decade.
