Tyson Fury – Wladimir Klitschko II: Check It…The Rematch Will Go Like This!

 Loading ...

By Anthony “Stacks” Saldaña

On November 28th the boxing world witnessed what could be the end of an era, as Wladimir “Dr. SteelHammer” Klitschko entered the ring in Dusseldorf, Germany, to face Tyson Fury. Tyson shocked the world by defeating Klitschko for the IBF, IBO, WBA and WBO World Heavyweight titles. As I sat back and watched the fight, I truly felt it was more of Wlad losing the fight than Tyson winning. Yes, Tyson’s footwork and size bothered Klitschko and at times, Wlad seemed very frustrated as Fury began gaining confidence while Wlad failed to make adjustments. The end result, Fury did exactly what he said he would do. He went into Germany, handled all the pressure, and walked away as the new heavyweight champion of the world. The 39 year old Wladimir left the ring suffering his first defeat in over 11 years.

After his defeat Klitschko exercised his rematch clause, and a fight is scheduled for late spring, early summer with Fury. Early Vegas odds have Wlad a slight favorite going into the fight. When Klitschko steps back into the ring, boxing fans can look for two things to happen. One Wlad makes the adjustments, becomes the aggressor, takes the fight to Fury and regains his titles. Klitschko who is the more technically sound fighter should have little to no trouble doing that.

Now let’s slow down and take a closer look at the second part. When the rematch takes place Wlad will be 40 years old. Wlad won a Gold Medal in the 1996 Olympics, has held some part of the heavyweight championship since 2006, and is the second longest reigning heavyweight champion only behind Joe Louis with 23 title defenses. He’s a guaranteed future boxing hall of famer with nothing to prove to anyone but himself. Wlad has a beautiful wife and a new baby and is financially set. I honestly can’t say that Klitschko has that fire left in his eyes, or the hunger of a champion.

So with all Wladimir’s accomplishments, his new child, family life and father time not waiting for anyone, can Klitschko beat Fury? Yes, although Klitschko hasn’t looked the greatest in his last two fights, Wlad is the superior boxer. Just like the Buster Douglas win over Mike Tyson, the Klitschko Fury fight was a fluke. Fury has no power, he failed to hurt Wlad with his pawing shots and both fighters looked awful. Wlad just looked worse in what was a horrible championship fight. I see Klitschko winning the rematch over Fury by decision in another ugly fight.

With that being said the landscape of the heavyweight division is changing, fighter such Luis Ortiz, Deontay Wilder, and Anthony Joshua will be the faces of the heavyweight division. Tyson Fury will always be remembered for his crazy antics, loud mouth and upset victory over Klitschko. While Wlad should take the high road and retire, win or lose after his rematch with Fury. His legacy is etched in stone and he has absolutely nothing to prove. Too many boxers are surrounded by people who want them to fight for financial or other reasons, deluded by their own egos and flawed judgments, seeing themselves as they were, not as they are, viewing the new raw fighters as easy pickings, many return to get beat or hurt.

[si-contact-form form=’2′]