By Scott Gilfoid: Tyson Fury doesn’t care about bothering with a unification fight with Anthony Joshua after he’s done with WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder. Once Wilder is out of his hair, Fury (29-0-1, 20 KOs) says he’ll look around for the biggest and the best fight options for him, and then head in that direction.
Fury says ta unification fight against AJ is pointless because he already captured the IBF, IBO, WBA and WBO titles in 2015 when he beat Wladimir Klitschko to become the unified champion. Therefore, Fury doesn’t wish to go over old ground by fighting IBF/WBA/WBO champion Joshua (23-1, 21 KOs) for titles he previously held.
Fury already rejecting a fight against Joshua won’t go over too well with his promoter Eddie Hearn, being that he’s already chomping at the bit to put together a fight between AJ and Tyson. Hearn gets excited every time the subject of Joshua fighting Fury is brought up to him. It’s as if Hearn is already counting the boatloads of money the fight will bring in from UK pay-per-view sales on Sky Sports Box Office.
Fury gunning for a knockout
“I’m really heavy, looking for the knockout,” said Fury to Fighthub. “I’ve packed on the pounds, strength, muscle mass. I can’t wait. Life isn’t about living regrets, it’s about enjoying the moments you do have. I’ve learned from my mistakes, and I won’t be doing it again.
“It went really well. I had good sparring partners, and it went really well. Yep, why not?” said Fury when asked if he’ll go into a third fight with Wilder right away. “Keep fighting the biggest and best fights out there, and delivering entertainment to the fans. There are a lot of options out there. I have to weigh the options after I win this fight,” Fury said in sounding confident of victory over Deontay.
For Fury to score a stoppage over Wilder, he’s going to need to really put it on him, and not back off. the last time they fought, Fury didn’t show the fire in his belly to take the fight to Wilder.
When Fury would land anything, he always had his back ready to start the retreat mode. His whole aura was that of a fighter whose main concern was to not get hit hard. When you fight the way Fury did against Deontay, you’re not going to knock him out. You’re going to survive, but you’re not going to knock him out.
Fury not interested in Joshua unification fight
“Three fights [left on contract with Top Rank]. No, not really,” said Fury when asked he’d be interested in a fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship after he’s done with his 2 fights against Wilder in 2020. “I just want whoever is the biggest at the time. I hurt him by hitting him on the chin multiple times. No, it’s about hitting him hard and often.
“I’ve already been the unified heavyweight champion of the world,” said Fury in being asked if his goal is to be the unified champion. “I don’t know if you remember. I’m sick of saying it. 2015, it goes on and on and on,” Fury said in reminding the media that he beat Wladimir Klitschko to become the unified champion five years ago.
“It’s about fighting in Las Vegas and entertaining the fans, giving the British people a reason to go to Las Vegas for. When was the last time this existed? Ricky Hatton days. I’m going to do my best to deliver what was said,” Fury stated.
So there it is. Fury isn’t interested in a Joshua unification fight. Oh well, I guess Hearn is going to have to finally make that Joshua vs. Whyte fight.
Hearn isn’t going to listen to what Fury is saying right now about him not wanting to fight Joshua. Whatever Fury says right now, it’s going to go in one ear and out the other with Hearn.
Fury may be too proud to admit it but there aren’t a lot of options out there for big fights once Wilder is out of the picture. Three’s Joshua, Andy Ruiz Jr., and Dillian Whyte, and that’s about it. There may not even be Whyte after he faces Alexander Povetkin in April or May. Povetkin will probably beat Whyte, and finish him as a serious contender.
Deontay Wilder’s skills underrated says Kellerman
“In the end, guys usually do what they want to do what they naturally do and have always done, and for Tyson Fury, that’ll mean boxing at various points in the fight,” said Max Kellerman to Fighthype. “But if you’re trying to be elusive against a big puncher, who also has quick hands, and you put on 15 pounds more than what you’re used to carrying, that could make you sluggish.
“I don’t see Wilder accruing small advantages over time,” said Max.” I see Wilder with an eraser, who was able to get a late start. I think his skills are underrated just because they’re not classic skills. He doesn’t get hit that much, because most people don’t want to take the risk because he’s such a big puncher,” said Kellerman.
Gilfoid totally agrees with Mr. Kellerman on Deontay not getting the kudos on his talent.
When most people talk about Wilder, they dismiss his boxing ability whatsoever. They view him as unskilled, and just a guy that wins with his right-hand power. They overlook the talent that he had to possess for him to win so many of his fights.
Wilder similar to Rocky Marciano
“Number two, he [Wilder] has a way of avoiding punches even if you can tag him here and there, he has a way of doing it. The fighter he reminds me of, not stylistically, is Rocky Marciano. Rocky Marciano was a short guy, who got low and was very different than Wilder.
“But Marciano picked up boxing very late and was a devastating puncher. He was considered a product of hype. He was very carefully matched. But over time, he kind of honed his own technique, and he wound up as an undefeated champion,” said Kellerman about Marciano.
Like Marciano, Wilder is someone that started off with a lot of raw power and skills. Over time, Wilder improved immensely just as Marciano did. It took a long time for Marciano to develop into the world champion that he became. Rocky finished his career with a 49-0 record, and likely could have done a lot more if he’d wanted to.
Deontay has improved on defense
Deontay was brought along very carefully at first against a lot of stiffs, but at a certain point through repetition and training, and because he had such big power in his right hand, you could see as a more finished product,” Max said in noting the improvement Deontay has made. “He has his own way of avoiding punches. He’s long, he’s fast, and his power keeps guys honest.
“So I don’t see him as an advantage accruer like a chess champion. I see him as a homerun hitter. He can be down three runs in the 9th, but with Deontay, the bases are always loaded and he’s sitting on a fastball,” said Max.
Wilder is no different than most fighters in how he was brought along at the start of his career. He wasn’t put in a world title fight as quickly as Joshua was, but when he did fight for a title, he fought a quality champion in Bermane Stiverne. Joshua had it easy in challenging Charles Martin for his IBF belt.