By Kenneth Friedman: Tyson Fury is already looking beyond his September 14th title defense against challenger Otto Wallin towards a fight in December that he’s planning for England. Fury (28-0-1, 20 KOs) doesn’t have an opponent in mind for his fight in December, but it’s likely to be one of the top contenders in the division.
The reason for Fury fighting in December is because he believes WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder won’t be available to face him in February, as they originally planned, because he’s defending against Luis Ortiz in November. Fury defends against Wallin (20-0, 13 KOs) on ESPN+ on September 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
This will be Fury’s fifth defense of his prestigious lineal heavyweight title he won in 2015 in beating Wladimir Klitschko.
Fury: After I beat Wallin, I’ll fight in December
“After I fight Wallin, I’m going to fight in December,” said Fury to BT Sport. “After the Wallin fight, [Deontay] Wilder is fight [Luis] Ortiz in November. So he ain’t going to want to fight in February, is he? That fight will be pushed back again. So after I beat Wallin, I’m going to fight in December. I want to fight in England in December, because I know ESPN isn’t going to put me on again in December. But I will get one in December n England, because my uncle Frank will let it happen. I’m allowed in my contract to have a fight in England. I’m not too bothered about where it is, as long as it’s in the UK. As long as I can get out in December, I’ll be happy,” said Fury.
Wilder (41-0-1, 40 KOs) will have his hands full against Luis Ortiz in November, and that’s a risky fight. It would be good for Fury, 6’9″, is his co-promoters at Top Rank match him against a respected heavyweight in December. Top Rank whiffed in choosing to match Fury against German heavyweight Tom Schwarz last June, as the U.S boxing fans showed no interest in that mismatch. Fury is fighting another foreign no name fighter in 6’6″ Wallin, who comes from Sweden. Wallin is a highly ranked contender, but his resume is filled with obscure opposition.
Fury: Deontay Wilder can’t beat me now
“Wilder even got beat,” said Fury in discussing Anthony Joshua’s recent knockout loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. “You’ve got to learn not to get hit, and learn not to take those punishing blows. As good as Joshua is, and as great shape as he is, and as hard as he trains, he was still down. He was still hurt in fights. You’ve got to earn to avoid punishment, because sooner or later the wrong punch is going to put you upside down. You won’t be able to get back up. Like me; I got dropped twice with Wilder.
I thank the Lord I got back up. It may have been a disaster, but I put that down to being three years out of the ring. I don’t think that’ll happen in the rematch, because if Deontay Wilder ever had a prayer in beating me, he would have done it then, would he not? I had two fights back in three years, and he couldn’t beat me then. Now I’m match fit, and active and I’m fighting regular and in training camps. He hasn’t got a chance in beating me now. He’ll always have a chance, because he’ll have a puncher’s chance, but I don’t believe he’ll land those shots on me now I’m much sharper, and I’m now match fit,” said Fury.
Fury says he’s stronger now, and will KO Wilder
We’re going to see whether Fury can withstand the power shots from Wilder in their rematch in 2020. Being in better physical shape will help Fury, but it’s not going to change how he reacts when he gets hit clean by Wilder. That comes down to whether he can handle Wilder’s power. Fury didn’t handle Wilder’s power well last December, and he was lucky the referee didn’t stop the fight in the 12th.
“I’ve never been as strong, never been punching as hard, never been as confident as I am today. I’m definitely going to knock him out this time.” – @Tyson_Fury on how he sees a rematch with @BronzeBomber playing out, with @FirstTake. pic.twitter.com/mob6qnnDnh
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) August 13, 2019
If Fury stands in front of Wilder in the rematch, he’ll be inviting trouble. He’s better off sticking with the game plan he used for their first fight. Spoiling for 12 rounds worked for Fury until he got tired, and started taking heavy shots in the championship rounds. It’s interesting that Fury is concentrating more on Wilder than he is his next opponent Wallin. If Fury about to make the same mistake Anthony Joshua did in overlooking Andy Ruiz?