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Memo to Tyson Fury: Get Your Shit Together You’re the Heavyweight Champion of the World!

Tyson FuryBy Dave “Madcap” Mroczek

What is going on around the heavyweight division, fight fans? In the past while there have been injuries, and positive drug tests, and now our latest scandal includes both – and the heavyweight champion of the world. Recently Tyson Fury announced his much anticipated rematch fight versus Wladimir Klitschko would have to be postponed due to an injury he sustained while “jogging”. It was a disappointment for sure, but what can be done about it? Injuries happen in a tough sport like boxing. Tyson tweeted photos of a badly bruised ankle, disproving the claims that he was simply out of shape and looking to postpone.

The controversy began when several witnesses claimed that Tyson Fury had been seen at a rave party in Wales during his training camp. Noticeably intoxicated, Fury was seen jumping down from a balcony to the crowd on the ground below. He landed awkwardly and was seen writhing and shouting in pain, favoring his ankle. Jogging, huh?

In addition to this embarrassing faux pas, one news source in England is reporting that Tyson Fury’s drug testing sample from before the first Klitschko fight showed unnatural levels of anabolic steroid Nandralone, and while he hasn’t been declared as failing the test yet, he is under investigation. Yet another disappointment served up from the boxing world. I will reserve comment on this since he has not been proven to have done any wrongdoing yet, but it is not looking good.

There has to be some better system than this fight fans. This is the second case of late where a fighter has been found with something in their system, but they have not been declared to fail the test, and are under a long drawn out investigation. The drug test in question took place over seven months ago. If he had failed a test, the original fight should have been stopped. Under what circumstances should it take seven months and possibly a rematch already happening before he is even under investigation? It’s about time boxing got its collective head out of its ass and acted in a better manner than this, because this is the kind of story that is killing the sport.

First of all, nobody cares if you want to go and get drunk at rave parties and pig out on chocolate, Tyson Fury is as free a man as the rest of us. When the time comes to go to work, that’s what a man must do. This incident occurred during training camp. Under no circumstances should a boxer be out drinking all night at a rave party during camp. There is plenty of time to do whatever you want during the downtime, and Fury’s conditioning clearly shows he enjoyed his time off.

This is an absolute disgrace, and a total disrespect of the sport that has given him fame and fortune. All he had to do was to work hard for six weeks and get into shape. If defending the true heavyweight championship of the world cannot motivate someone, what will? Fans are paying their hard earned money for tickets, TV subscriptions and pay per views. Fans are paying his multi-million dollar purse. Fans deserve a lot better of a champion than a drunken party goer, ruining a world championship fight.

If a fighter hurts himself jogging, that is one thing. If a fighter hurts himself due to a lack of discipline and total stupidity like in this case, he should have to pay a penalty to the opponent. In a perfect world he should have to fight with a crippled ankle, since it was his own stupidity that caused the injury. If he has such little regard for the heavyweight crown, the same throne sat upon by legends like Ali, Dempsey, Johnson, Marciano, Louis and so many others, than he should be forced to face that disrespect head on and risk losing his status in the ring while hobbling around.

I was beginning to like Tyson Fury. I like his humorous style and free speaking attitude. But Tyson fury has one job to do, which allows him the public platform to spew his big mouthed rants. Maybe he should remember his job is not to be a goofy idiot, it is to train for and win prizefights. If he cannot control himself for six weeks in order to train for the greatest prize in the world, then he doesn’t deserve to be heavyweight champion. If he turns out to be a drug cheat as well, then as much as I dislike fighters being called bums, this is some pretty bummy stuff from the champion. Boxing fans deserve better than this. Tyson Fury you are letting us down.

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