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Tyson Fury: Is Wladimir Klitschko Next on his Dance Card?

Who do you think will win between Tyson Fury & Wladimir Klitschko?

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FuryBy Lou Eisen

Referee Marcus McDonnell stopped the fight after round 8 at the request of Christian Hammer’s corner as Tyson Fury, 24-0, 18 KO’s gained yet another victory on his way to a possible title shot against the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, Wladimir Klitschko, 63-3, 53 KO’s. The Romanian born Hammer, 17-4, 10 KO’s was ranked number three by the WBO and Fury had no problem winning every round by an impressive display of technical boxing ability at the 02 Arena in London, England.

Everytime he steps into the ring to go to war, Fury is expected to lay an unmerciful beating on his hapless foes and he has done that many times in his previous fights. He also did that last night with Hammer as well. However, the manner in which he breaks down his ring foes now is vastly different from the rough-hewn methods he used earlier in his career.

Fury has now also developed into a very skilled technical boxer, which only serves to add yet another wrinkle to his already vast arsenal of boxing weaponry. He has shown a gradual but steady progression in his fundamental boxing skills and has developed into a fine, first-rate heavyweight contender. He can box as well as slug and it would be a mistake for any other heavyweight in the world, including Klitschko to dismiss him outright.

Fury has learned to go to the body with bad intentions, wearing his foes down with repeated punishing shots to both the liver and spleen. Fury has also developed his jab to the extent that it is equally potent as an offensive or defensive weapon. Fury’s boxing skills have improved because his balance has improved. Fury has also shown that he can pick up the tempo when necessary to finish off a wounded foe as he did so aptly today against the well-beaten Hammer.

Many of Fury’s opponents often brace themselves for a furious onslaught from the lanky 6’9” behemoth, a native of Manchester, England, once the bell rings to start the fight. By choosing to box technically while smartly utilizing both his incredible reach and stingingly accurate jab, Fury, in essence threw a very effective change-up at his thoroughly outclassed and utterly exhausted German-based opponent. Hammer showed that he was mentally and physically unprepared to engage Fury in a battle of technical boxing.

What does this all mean for Fury’s future? It means that Fury is now beginning to win fights with his brains as well as his brawn and that will no doubt help him immensely down the road when it comes time to face either Klitschko or Deontay Wilder. Very few, if any of Fury’s past opponents, especially Derek Chisora and certainly Christian Hammer, believed that Fury would attempt to utilize his underrated boxing skills to win a fight. Chisora before, and now Hammer, in particular, trained and prepared for a toe-to-toe, slugfest, phone booth type of war with Fury. That was the focus of their respective training camps. By electing to box rather than slug with Hammer, Fury outsmarted his ring rival and dominated him for as long as the fight lasted, which proved to be eight one-sided rounds.

Fury did look a bit heavy around the middle but the extra poundage did not seem to adversely affect him in any way. Fury also displayed a tendency to carry his hands low at times but that was because he knew Hammer had very little of anything to throw back at him. Fury can get away with carrying his hands low when he is facing a man with virtually nothing to offer back but it is a habit he would be smart to rid himself of permanently. Hammer was unable to earn Fury’s respect in any round, which is why he took such a terrible beating in the eight lopsided rounds that the fight lasted.

Fury would be well advised to carry his hands high and tight if, as advertised, he gets his shot at Klitschko’s world titles. If Fury continues to carry his hands low, particularly his right hand, it could prove disastrous against Klitschko, who has twice as many career knockouts as Fury has fights. Fury does have momentum and confidence and youth on his side and in a fight with the 39 year-old Klitschko that could certainly be enough to tip the balance of the outcome in his favor.

Fury does have the requisite punching power to do significant damage to Klitschko but let’s not forget that the opposite proposition is true as well. Klitschko would be by far the most skilled and powerful heavyweight fighter that Fury has ever faced and there is no doubt that Klitschko does possess more than enough power to turn out Fury’s lights. Both men have tasted the canvas before in their respective careers. The difference of course is that Fury has never lost while Klitschko was knocked out on three different occasions.

Against Hammer, Fury displayed a disturbing tendency to admire his jab, and he has done so in previous fights. Rather than snap his jab back quickly as one is supposed to do, he often leaves it hanging out there, secure in the knowledge that his height and reach will keep him out of harm’s way. This may have worked against inferior or less skilled fighter’s but against Klitschko, Fury would have to double up on his jab but also snap it back into a defensive position as quickly as possible after he has thrown it.

It is a safe bet to assume that Klitschko has already picked up on Fury’s fondness for his own jab and will look to time Fury’s jab should they meet in the ring. Klitschko’s chin has improved because his balance has improved significantly thanks to the intensive tutelage he received at the hands of master trainer, the late Emanuel Steward. Klitschko does not make the same mistakes he made earlier in his career and his balance and leverage are second to none in the heavyweight division.

By the same token, Fury’s overall skill set has improved and is indeed beginning to flourish in a big way. His management team is already negotiating for a title challenge against Klitschko. Klitschko’s promotional company, K2 Promotions are notoriously tough bargainers and are well known for offering challengers next to nothing for a shot at the world heavyweight titles held by Klitschko. Is Fury ready at this point in his career to challenge Klitschko for ultimate supremacy of the heavyweight division? There is no doubt that Fury’s confidence is riding sky high right now, and that is why his management team is looking to take advantage of his momentum by challenging Klitschko right now.

There are indeed precious few boxing observers around today that truly believe Fury can defeat Klitschko in either a technical boxing match or a slugfest. Needless to say, such doubt has never bothered Fury before in past fights, as he has never much cared for the opinions of others and only puts stock in what he thinks of himself. Klitschko has been world champion for a very long time now and has become rather complacent with his accomplishments. Maybe, just maybe, self-confidence might be the spark Fury needs to topple an aging champion off of his old, decrepit throne.

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