Chisora V Fury: Klitschko awaits, and Boxing is back on British TV

By Boxing News - 07/23/2011 - Comments

Image: Chisora V Fury: Klitschko awaits, and Boxing is back on British TVBy Jordan Stoddart: Still fresh from the disappointment of David Haye’s lackluster display in Hamburg, and last weeks poor, but stacked, card in Liverpool featuring the most bizarre ending to a world title fight you will ever see, British heavyweight prospects Dereck Chisora and Tyson Fury bid to build on what can be viewed as a low in current British boxing standards, although Kevin Mitchell V John Murray gave the fans something to smile about in a Liverpool thriller last weekend.

With the exception of Super Middleweight king Carl Froch, and Light welterweight superstar Amir Khan, the British Isles can only land claim to 1 other fighter sharing a version of a world title. It is a far cry from 2007, when the nation had ‘World’ belt holders flowing out of its shores like the Thames Estuary spews out water to the north sea. Gavin Rees had one. Enzo Maccarinelli had one. Haye had two, Hatton one, Junior Witter had one, the list could go on. That’s without even mentioning Joe Calzaghe who was performing in two weight divisions and was a solid member on the pound for pound ratings. Oh, how those days have changed…..

Dereck Chisora may be known to mainstream fans as the once (twice actually) planned opponent for Wladimir Klitschko, the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. Unfortunately for the Finchley man, he has not stepped into the ring since September of last year, although he has completed 2 full training camps, so one can only assume he will be in peak condition for tonights massive domestic clash. He tipped the scales at 261 pounds, a full 5 pounds heavier than his opponent tonight, heavy for a fighter who is just half an inch over the 6 foot mark. Chisora has plenty to prove, and deserves a big fight after becoming a pawn in the drawn out Klitschko v Haye saga. If I was ever given a chance to be a fly on the wall, I would have liked to witness the moment he was told he would not be fighting the Ukrainian Heavyweight boss for the second time. But his time is now, and the past has only benefited his cause.

Tyson Fury, again, does have a pretty good standing with regards to mainstream exposure. He has featured quite heavily in lads mags, tabloids and even hit the main news headlines in Great Britain, only last week after he was quoted as saying he would like to kill Chisora in tonights bout. Oh, not again. These fights do need to sell, but do we need more of these distasteful comments so soon after Hayes now laughable tirades before his ill-fated trip to Germany? I say no. Especially, if the culprit is another untested prospect who seems to be making his name off other genuine world title holders in the division. Fury is merely known for his unique name, (he is named after boxing legend Mike Tyson) and his family background is well documented, in particular a quite savage attack by his father, and ex-trainer, which saw the unfortunate victim losing an eye. I doubt we will see as much aggression tonight.

The fight is actually being screened on the terrestrial station Channel 5 in the UK, a welcome return for the casual fans. On that note, it is is very critical that this fight impresses, both in entertainment standards, and actually in drawing in a large audience that justly proves Boxing’s place on UK TV’s (Especially in a primetime slot on Saturday TV). The fight looks to be a cracker; on paper. Chisora is slick, deceivingly fast, and has a great KO ratio, ending 9 of his 14 contests within the distance, and looked particularly good against the solid, but domestically good Sam Sexton. That was the Londoners last outing, and was some time ago, so it does lead me to believe that Chisora will be ring rusty when the bell rings. However, he is well trained, looks to be fit, and is a very, powerful fighter on his night.

Tyson Fury does possess a slightly better record, 14 (10)-0, but his CV is no where near as solid as ‘Del Boy’s’. He disposed of John McDermott in a TKO victory back in 2010, but even though he has been the more active of the two, he really does have a lot to prove, both to the boxing fraternity, and to the mainstream masses. (If he wants to fight either of the Klitschko’s, which he continues to tell us he will be doing in the very near future.) Fury has talent, no doubt. He has good range, a great build, in this modern heaveyweight era, and if he could add some more accuracy, and mix his shots up a bit more, he could a be a serious threat to the current monopoly in the current division. To his credit, he has taken the criticism over his weight and fitness on board, and in his last outing against Marcelo Luiz Nascimento (Won KO round 5) he did appear to have shed some weight, and looker a hell of a lot sharper than he did against Zack Page.

This fight is massive in the UK, and it does appear that Wladimir has picked the winner of this fight as his next opponent, hopefully before the end of 2011. Both can sell tickets, both are young, both have the press streak, as Haye did, so it does make economical sense to sound them out for a possible fight in London. However, from a purely boxing perspective, and with no offence intended, neither will stand a chance at beating the newly crowned undisputed fighter in the heavyweight division. Klitshcko is in a different league, and is now enjoying the fruits of a rejuvenated division which has seen it land straight back on the pages of newspapers of late, and hopefully can continue its march back as the premier league in the sport. Fury and Chisora are the future, and a good showing by either man tonight can really inject some flesh blood into the arena, so to speak.

I see the fight being a cagy affair, Fury relying on his pole like jab, with Chisora utilising his better head and foot movement, hopefully wearing the Cheshire man out mid rounds. Chisora does possess the snappier, faster jab, and digs very, very well, and I see this being the key in this fight. Fury will actually benefit win or lose as he is facing a massive step-up in class in fighting Chisora, but I can only see a Chisora victory here. He has the necessary tools to win a belt at one stage, and he needs to be explosive tonight, put the Klitschko saga behind him, and then aim for the European strap. If Wlad comes calling again, then he will be a better fighter, but for now, he needs to do the British boxing community a massive favour, and show the execs that there are good fighters ready to progress to the world level, and are there to be shown to the masses on mainstream TV. Big fight, very important in a number of ways. Let us hope it lives up to expectations.

The fight is live on Channel 5 in the UK at 2200.



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