By Tom Graves: The British heavyweight scene has been longing for a dominating boxer to represent the United Kingdom at a world class level since the reign of Lennox Lewis, the three time world champion who fought genuinely top class contenders to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. He hosted an impressive professional record, winning 41 fights, 32 by knockout and only two losses, in which were both avenged.
In the years since Lewis hung up his gloves, there have been a few British prospects who were over-estimated, failed to reach their potential and achieved success within the domestic scene but fell short at world class level, to mention names; Herbie Hide, Danny Williams, Audley Harrison and Michael Sprott.
Although our own David Haye currently owns the WBA belt, he has only fought at heavyweight four times and needs a unification bout with a Klitschko Brother to form any kind of legendary status within the heavyweight division, even if Haye fights and defeats a Klitschko he stated during an interview with the BBC “I want to retire before I’m 31”, being 29 now and spending most of his career at Cruiserweight, this surely eliminates Haye from being a long reigning champion like Lewis was in his day. Therefore we have to look to the future and one particular prospect who has received a lot of attention since turning professional in 2008 is Tyson Fury, a 22 year old Mancunion who has had 11 fights in around 19 months, winning all by knockout except two by decision.
The tale of the tape is something to consider too, towering above most heavyweights at 6′ 9″, Fury has an impressive reach of 85 inches, although Fury doesn’t not possess the best physique he weighs between 18 and19 stone and moves fairly quickly for someone his size, his chin is strong and is heavy fisted, just some of the attributes that make a great heavyweight fighter.
Although Tyson Fury is not yet at world title level, potentially he imposes a great danger to any heavyweight in the world, at his age most males are dealing with the transition from adolescence to adulthood, Fury who turned 22 on June the 1st is well on the way to success and fame within the professional boxing industry.
Being so young and only having 11 fights on his record obviously means he is not at the level to compete with The Klitschkos, Haye or any of the top 10 contenders within any boxing sanctioning body’s heavyweight rankings but despite this, he is at the perfect age to progress and can only get better. Many fighters are being matched against journey men until around there 20th fight but Fury recently showed great heart and will to knockout the hard man and top English/British title contender John McDermott in his 11th fight proving himself as a real threat, this victory earned him a possible fight with current British heavyweight champion Derek Chisora.
Things are moving quickly for Tyson Fury, big things are ahead. He is not yet knocking on the door of any of the world title holders but with time, training and experience, Tyson Fury has great potential to be this generation’s British undisputed world heavyweight champion as Lennox Lewis once was, Tyson Fury is most definitely one to watch.
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