2016: A bad year for the heavyweights (barring Anthony Joshua)

09/26/2016 James Slater

Neither fans of the heavyweight division, nor most of the fighting big men themselves, have had too much to get excited about this year. With world ruler Tyson Fury’s well documented problems having seen to it that he has not boxed at all in 2016 (and will not do so until 2017 at the earliest, if even then) it has fallen on the other heavyweight belt holders to entertain the fans.

But between them, WBC champ Deontay Wilder, “interim” WBA ruler Luis Ortiz and Lucas Browne, a brief holder of yet another version of the WBA belt, have had a less than great year themselves.

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Eddie Hearn convinced we’ve seen the last of Tyson Fury in a boxing ring

09/26/2016 James Slater

There are currently nothing but questions surrounding world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury: will he be stripped of his title(s)? How bad is his mental, and physical, condition? Will he attend the scheduled drugs test hearing that is looming? Will Fury even box again?

One man who is convinced we have seen the last of Fury inside a boxing ring is Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn, promoter, of course, of rival heavyweight, IBF champ Anthony Joshua. Hearn, in speaking with BBC Sport, said he feels Fury will be stripped and that as a result the unbeaten 28-year-old will have a ‘That’s it, I’m done’ attitude.

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Question of the week: Should Tyson Fury be stripped of his heavyweight belts?

09/25/201609/24/2016 James Slater

One of the immediate reactions many people had yesterday when they heard the news that heavyweight champion Tyson Fury had pulled out of his rematch with Wladimir Klitschko for a second time, was to demand that Fury be stripped of his heavyweight titles. This November 18th will of course mark a full 12 months since Fury became world champion, and due to inactivity and of not granting Klitschko his rematch clause-enforced rematch, Fury should, many people say, be stripped.

But there is more to the story. In fact, from what Peter Fury says, a whole lot more.

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Eddie Hearn has “reached out” to Team-Klitschko; Joshua-Klitschko a possibility

09/25/201609/24/2016 James Slater

Fight fans have almost certainly heard by now how the scheduled October 29 rematch between Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko is off, due to the heavyweight champion being “medically unfit to fight.” There is talk of Fury suffering from mental issues, but nothing has been confirmed and Fury is of course entitled to his privacy. We wish him well.

But the boxing world moves on and now that Fury-Klitschko II is off for the time being at least (it’s almost a full year now since Fury upset Klitschko to take the titles in Germany) there have been moves to try and make another huge fight involving Wladimir. Promoter Eddie Hearn, who of course looks after reigning IBF champ Anthony Joshua, has conformed that he “reached out” to Berndt Boente, Klitschko’s manager, with the idea of making a Klitschko-Joshua fight.

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Tyson Fury & Wladimir Klitschko Statements

09/25/201609/23/2016 Hennessy Sports

The world championship bout between Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko is cancelled, once again because of Fury. The Klitschko Management Group (KMG) was informed by Fury’s promoter that Fury cannot box for several months due to medical reasons. Thus, the fight night planned for October 29, 2016 in Manchester unfortunately must be cancelled.

Wladimir Klitschko received this message at his training camp. “I am totally disappointed that Fury cancelled the fight for a second time. I am in top shape and I would have loved to retrieve my world championship belts in Manchester. Since I became a professional boxer in 1996, I never had such a long break.“

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Early reports say Fury-Klitschko rematch will be postponed……again!

09/23/2016 James Slater

Early, breaking news reports are saying the troubled Tyson Fury-Wladimir Klitschko rematch is set to be officially postponed, again! According to a short piece from David Anderson of The Mirror, Fury has suffered another injury, meaning the heavyweight champ will not be ready for October 29th. As fans know, Fury suffered a reported ankle injury ahead of the original July 9 rematch date, and now it looks as though we will be getting a third date.

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Klitschko Tweets he will be vicious in Fury rematch

09/23/201609/23/2016 James Slater

Former heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko has been using the mantra, “now more than ever” ahead of his on/off now on again rematch with Tyson Fury. “Obsessed” with getting revenge and of “putting right” the decision loss he suffered last November, the 40-year-old has pointed out on Twitter how he is “vicious” when returning to the ring from a loss.

And Dr. Steel Hammer says he will be vicious on October 29, in his latest comeback.

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Veteran scribe Colin Hart says Tyson Fury should win this year’s British Fighter of The Year award

09/17/201609/17/2016 James Slater

The last 12 months have undeniably been great ones for British boxing. Going back to last September up to the present day, the world has seen some terrific performances from British fighters both at home and abroad. And next week sees the prestigious British Boxing Board of Control’s annual awards dinner. There is stiff competition this year as far as who will lift the British Fighter of The Year trophy.

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Tyson Fury a no-show at presser, Klitschko says “If it doesn’t happen in October, I will wait”

09/12/201609/12/2016 James Slater

There was a press conference in London today, to promote the return fight between Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko, now back on (we hope) for October 29 in Manchester. But only one half of the match-up turned up, as Fury had “car trouble” and was a no-show. Fury is said to have broken down on the motorway, his phone battery dead. Co-promoter Mick Hennessey explained how the unfortunate circumstances were simply beyond the heavyweight champion’s control.

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Fury-Klitschko II will be available on Sky Sports Box Office

09/16/201609/12/2016 BoxNation

Tyson Fury’s Heavyweight World Title rematch with the legendary Wladimir Klitschko will be made available via BoxNation Box Office to Sky customers for the first time. The groundbreaking development will see this year’s biggest fight, taking place on Saturday October 29th in Manchester, being accessible to Sky’s 12 million customers who will be able to order the BoxNation event via their remote control for a one-off pay-per-view fee.

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