Don’t call yourself the heavyweight champion until you beat Tyson Fury

Don’t call yourself the heavyweight champion until you beat Tyson Fury

An avalanche of news stories – with some suggesting that Tyson Fury’s heavyweight career had been derailed by anything from mental health issues, to PED usage, and recreational drugs – has fallen on the heavyweight landscape over the last couple of months.

The WBA and WBO recently stripped Tyson Fury of their titles, catching up with the IBF, who did the same in 2015 (unbelievably, just 7 weeks after Fury had won their title, the IBF crowned Charles Martin as their champion for beating Vyacheslav Glazkov).  The WBC claim Deontay Wilder is the world champion. Joseph Parker is now in possession of the WBO belt.

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The Heavyweights- Now or Never?

The Heavyweights- Now or Never?

The 28th of November, 2015. Just another date in history to most but for boxing fans it marked a “changing of the guard” or at least that’s what they hoped.

When Tyson Fury met Wladimir Klitschko, the dominant force of Heavyweight boxing for a decade, at the Esprit Arena, Dusseldorf for the WBA (Super), WBO, IBF, IBO & Ring Magazine Championships it was seen as yet another routine defence for Klitschko. What followed was one of the most unexpected and shocking turn of events in the blue ribbon division for some time. By the end of twelve rounds there was nobody in any doubt that Fury had done the unthinkable, he had made believers out of the doubters and, like it or not, cemented his name in the annals of time. He ended the seemingly unstoppable reign of Wlad with a comfortable twelve round unanimous decision and left fans and experts alike wondering what was next for a division that had laid stagnant and dormant for far too long.

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Tyson Fury – what a difference a year makes

Tyson Fury – what a difference a year makes

This time last year, British heavyweight Tyson Fury was on top of the world. Today he is pretty close to rock bottom. It was exactly 12 months ago today when heavy underdog (4-1 against) Fury travelled to Düsseldorf, Germany to challenge the world champ Wladimir Klitschko – a heavyweight great who had dominated for over a decade, last losing a fight way, way back in 2004.

Despite the huge odds against him, Fury feinted, boxed, taunted, tricked and at times punched his way to an upset decision victory. Klitschko, who may or may not have had a rare off-night (we may never know if Klitschko can perform better against Fury as now, a rematch looks unlikely) couldn’t figure out the taller, quicker man. The win ranks as one of the finest in British boxing history and Fury returned home a hero. For a while.

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Wilder both hopes and thinks Fury will fight again – wants a showdown, belt or no belt

Wilder both hopes and thinks Fury will fight again - wants a showdown, belt or no belt

Will Tyson Fury fight again, and if so will he be anything like the force he was a year ago? It was twelve months ago this month when unbeaten contender Fury went from contender to world champion, defeating Wladimir Klitschko in one of British boxing’s finest victories. Since then, however, it’s been all downhill for Fury.

Weight gain, a lack of desire, huge amounts of controversy as a result of speaking his mind and, finally, mental health issues. Tyson experienced the lot and these events resulted in Fury being stripped of his belts, with him possibly seeing his career ended. Some feel this will not be the case, insisting the 28-year-old will come again; while others feel we will never see Fury inside a boxing ring again. Plenty of people want Fury back though – not least WBC heavyweight king Deontay Wilder.

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George Foreman: “I hope Tyson Fury gets back on his feet”

George Foreman: "I hope Tyson Fury gets back on his feet"

Heavyweight living legend George Foreman has heralded Tyson Fury as “distinctive” and a “maverick” and says that boxing needs him while he urges his linear successor to get back in the ring as soon as possible.

Foreman, in an absorbing interview with the Daily Telegraph’s Gareth Davies, added that the heavyweight division now lacks the buzz for the casual fan whilst Fury takes time away from the sport to deal with personal health issues.

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Tyson Fury vacates world heavyweight titles

Tyson Fury vacates world heavyweight titles

Statement from Hennessy Sports: Tyson Fury has this evening announced that he has voluntarily vacated his WBO, WBA and IBO World Heavyweight titles with immediate effect to fully focus on his medical treatment and recovery.

Tyson defeated the then linear world champion Wladimir Klitschko in Germany last November in one of the biggest ever upsets in sporting history to claim the unified world titles. However, due to a serious medical condition, Tyson was forced to withdraw from defending his titles against Klitschko in the rematch scheduled for October 29th in Manchester.

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Peter Fury says the WBA/WBO titles should “be freed up” while Tyson recovers; says the troubled champ will be back in training in “March or April”

Peter Fury says the WBA/WBO titles should “be freed up” while Tyson recovers; says the troubled champ will be back in training in “March or April”

Peter Fury, trainer and uncle of troubled heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, said on BBC Sport that the two belts Fury still holds but is widely expected to be stripped of shortly due to his well-documented drugs and mental health problems, should “not be held up.” Fury’s WBA and WBO titles are expected to be declared vacant soon (although WBA President Gilberto Mendoza told BBC Sport that no decision has yet been made by he and his organisation) and Peter himself says “let people fight for them.”

However, the trainer added how Tyson, upon his return, should be “held in regard so that when he does come back to box he should be available to move straight into position to fight for those world titles.”

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Fury Vs. Klitschko ……… an unfinished rivalry

Fury Vs. Klitschko ......... an unfinished rivalry

Though nobody will ever say the first, and as it will now no doubt be, the only, meeting between heavyweights Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko produced a great fight, there was a potentially great rematch of a fight awaiting us, and maybe a memorable trilogy of a rivalry. But now, due to Fury’s plethora of out of the ring problems, this particular rivalry has ended in a frustratingly unresolved manner.

Who knows what would have happened had Fury and Klitschko met in a rematch of last November’s bout, won on points by Fury.

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Kellie Maloney Slams Disrespectful Tyson Fury

Kellie Maloney Slams Disrespectful Tyson Fury

Kellie Maloney joined Christian O’Connell on Absolute Radio this morning for a very open and honest interview and did not hold back on her thoughts on Tyson Fury.

Kellie took part in Who’s Calling Christian where, over two weeks the great British public are asked to encourage celebrities to call in to the Absolute Radio Christian O’Connell Breakfast Show to be in with the chance of winning £20,000 for their chosen charity.

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Tyson Fury allegedly tests positive for cocaine, career / world titles in serious jeopardy

Tyson Fury allegedly tests positive for cocaine, career / world titles in serious jeopardy

Just when it seemed things were already bad enough for Tyson Fury, shocking news breaks that says the 28-year-old has allegedly tested positive for cocaine. Fury, as fight fans know, pulled out of his return fight with Wladimir Klitschko on September 23, the official line being that the heavyweight champion was “medically unfit to fight.” Later, it was revealed by Peter Fury that Tyson was battling mental health issues.

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