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Tyson Fury, Dereck Chisora & British Heavyweights – Boxing News

By Donald C. Stewart

You look at the World Heavyweight scene and anyone of my generation brought up on Ali and Foreman, Ali and Frazier, Ali and erm – let’s be honest there were loads of high quality prospects – gets depressed.

It was the pinnacle of sporting achievement the world over – The Heavyweight Championship of the World. The image that you had won, standing with your hand raised by the referee to hear the immortal words, the Heavyweight Champion of the World… followed by your name was every kid’s dream. There was no other competition like it.

Before Rocky Balboa climbed the stairs some of us had our hands raised in the middle of our bedrooms, hearing that phrase and knowing it was a dream but even at 46 years of age I can still feel the awe with which my young self hoped it could come true. It was equal to playing in the number 7 shirt for Ayr United but I wouldn’t expect anyone to understand that dream let alone have shared it.

If World titles cannot give us excitement then we are apt to look at our own home talent and turn our desperation or expectation upon the next generation of hopefuls in the hunt for what was once the biggest prize in sport. Right now there is some excitement in the Heavyweight prospects in the UK. The question is whether it is excitement because we have a genuine set of contenders or because the lack of competition outside the UK just makes them look good.

Now there are top tens in every part of the boxing internet that looks at Heavyweight prospects and they all tend to have something in common: A lack of British names. Only in the WBC rankings can you find one at number 11 – fittingly it is the top ranked UK Heavyweight.

Domestically top of our pile, that particular Heavyweight is gaining attention for his boxing, as well as his background: Tyson Fury, 17-0, 12 KO’s. Currently the British and Commonwealth Champion he is unbeaten though his defense of his Commonwealth title against Neven Pajkic saw him hit the canvas in the 1st round. Fury has signed a deal that brought boxing back onto terrestrial TV for the first time in years recently and that terrestrial channel – Channel Five has plans to promote Fury as much as they can.

Fury’s first fight on Channel Five was against another British heavyweight whose name has hit the headlines, Dereck Chisora 15-2, 9 KO’s. Chisora lost his British title that night through the judge’s unanimous decision that many thought would see him drop down the international radar. Not the radar it would appear of the Klitschko clan. Chisora was due to fight Wladimir Klitschko 56-3, 49 KO’s, twice before David Haye 25-2, 23 KO’s climbed in and took the chance away from him. In a bizarre form of karma, Chisora has now agreed a deal to fight big brother Vitali in Munich on the 18th of February that may put paid to Haye’s return to the ring to take on the elder brother.

Chisora managed to take on the fight after he was beaten in his attempt to win the European belt against Robert Helenius 17-0, 11 KO’s, in Helsinki. Many believe that Chisora won the fight and was unlucky to add a second loss to his record. It may have been unlucky that he didn’t end up with the belt but less unfortunate that it has led to another World title chance. Chisora is an enigma. A very able boxer he has not managed to fulfill his potential.

Potential has been a much used phrase when talking of prospects in this division, next up is Sam Sexton who has a 15-2, 6 KO’s, record. Sexton was put to the test when he fought and beat Larry Olubamiwo 10-3, 9 KO’s on the 13th of January.

Both of Sexton’s two losses were against Dereck Chisora as the domestic scene is turning in on itself to find healthy opponents. The judges score cards were used to halt the fight as Sexton had been injured thanks to an accidental clash of heads in the 4th. The fight was stopped in the 5th.

Back to the domestic scene having to find opponents within itself! Where that was most obvious was when David Price, 11-0, 9 KO’s, had a late withdrawal and found himself up against his stable mate, Tom Dallas 15-1, 11 KO’s. Dallas, like Price was undefeated and laid his record on the line for his friend. A better prepared Price knocked him out in the 2nd. Whilst others have found fame after the Beijing Olympics – DeGale, Cleverley and the like – we have not heard much of Price who was also a medal winner at Beijing. Of all the top contenders, Price might actually be a slow burn. I would expect 2012 to be the year that as others may fall away Price may emerge. He has challenged Fury and a bid has been tabled for the fight but Price has spoken of coming to the USA to escape the stifling domesticity of the UK scene.

The lack of realistic contenders is demonstrated by the fact that 5th named domestic heavyweight with a record of 26-8, 17 KO’s, is Big John McDermott. McDermott has been beaten twice by Tyson Fury and fought early in 2012. Seen by many as THE test of domestic heavyweights, McDermott will not be mentioned as a potential contender for any titles though the British one could come his way as others find bigger fryers in which to place their fish! Knocked off his feet by David Price in the first round his career will probably begin to have the tag journeyman attached…

Outside the top 5 – according to Boxrec – are Michael Sprott 36-17, 17 KO’s, whose best times might be past him; Larry Olubamiwo 10-3, 9KOs who failed to pick up against Sam Sexton early in 2012; Tom Dallas 15-1, 11KOs will have to wait and see if his sacrifice will affect his career; and Richard Towers 12-0, 9KOs another under the radar heavyweight who looks the part – needs to pick up the pace if he is to be a serious contender though.

Mind you the pace of any of them will have to quicken if they are to be seen as mentioned as serious world title hopes. 2012 may see four names in the headlines; Tyson Fury, Dereck Chisora; David Price and Richard Towers. Just whether either will manage to knock a belt off a Klitschko is anyone’s guess but at least we are not going into the year wondering if David Haye will beat Audley Harrison…. Haye’s return to the ring is looking increasingly unlikely while Harrison returns in April… Watch this space…

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