By William Mackay: British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion Tyson Fury (16-0, 11 KO’s) stopped journeyman Nicolai Firtha (20-9-1, 8 KO’s) in the 5th round on Saturday night at the King’s Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland. This was a fight that Fury promised would be an exciting one, but apart from a big right hand that Firtha hurt Fury with in the 3rd, it was a one-sided beating for Fury.
Fury already had Firtha looking bloody and beaten after the opening round, and continue to blast away at the badly over-matched Firtha in rounds 2, 4 and 5. The fight was halted in the 5th with Fury landing away with slow shots and Firtha just taking them like a punching bag.
This was no an impressive performance from Fury and it showed clearly that he doesn’t have the chin or the skills to beat some of the bigger heavyweights in the division like David Price and Robert Helenius. I’m not even going to bring up the Klitschkos because it’s academic that Fury wouldn’t stand a chance against either of those guys. But I think Fury isn’t anywhere near the same class as Price and Helenius, and these are the guys that Fury will likely have to beat to get to one of the Klitschkos.
Price will likely be Fury’s mandatory challenger for his British title after Price takes care of John McDermott. Unless Fury dodges the fight with Price, I see Fury getting weeded out from contention for a world title shot against one of the Klitchko brothers. I think American heavyweight Deontay Wilder would destroy Fury with right hands if given the chance. Firtha, a non puncher, had Fury grabbing on for dear life. Can you imagine what Wilder would do to Fury?
Fury looked fat around the midsection, and lacked power. If you took away the flab centered around his midsection, Fury is more like a 6’9″ 220 pound heavyweight rather than a true 253 pounder. Perhaps this is why Fury lacks power, because he lacks muscle weight.
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