Tyson Fury boxing news
An offer was made to Tyson Fury guaranteeing him a £650,000 purse to challenge David Price for the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles.
Tyson’s promoter Mick Hennessy turned down the offer, describing it as a “joke” and added that David would have to “step up to the plate on our terms”.
By Phenyo Molefe: Given Tyson Fury’s previous bouts, recent outbursts and the clear articulation of his goals; one would not be at fault to believe that we were about to witness Tyson unleash punishment on an ‘ill-prepared’ but proven Kevin Johnson. Tyson had to make a statement.
In the opening round, Fury jumped on Johnson with some jabs to the body not giving him sufficient time to find his footing. It looked like we were about to see a new and revised Fury as he presented movement and a variation of punches from all angles. He moved with improved fluidity, comfortably establishing his range and following through with some meaningful combinations.
The second round, begun with the near feverish pace with which Fury had ended the last round. Fuming with a blizzard, setting the jab on a stinger as he pelted Johnson’s body with little restraint. Johnson did have a little success when he pinned Tyson in the corner for a moment or two; however Fury replied with a pivot setting pressure back on Johnson with some telling hooks. He was definitely boxing well and grew in confidence, taking firm control of the bout.
By James Slater: A penny for the thoughts of David Price!
Tonight in Belfast, Tyson Fury retained his unbeaten record in winning a wide yet dull points win over a safety-minded Kevin Johnson. Winning by scores of 119-110, 119-108, 119-108, 24-year-old Fury advanced to 20-0(14) and also moved a step closer to a shot at the WBC heavyweight crown currently held by Vitali Klitschko.
33-year-old Johnson, who promised so much beforehand but failed miserably in the delivery department, is now 28-3-1(13).
There was little action to speak of and tonight’s fight had no standout round. Fury boxed well at times, remaining focused and refusing to go wild at any point. Occasionally switching to southpaw, Fury jabbed well when he used his best weapon. Johnson, appearing to have no real ambition other than to hear the final bell, did get home with the odd jab of his own, as well as the even less frequent right hand.
Soon growing tired of the lack of action (and to be fair, Fury has never been in a stinker before tonight, and the lack of action has to be put firmly on Johnson’s wide shoulders), the crowd began booing in the middle rounds and by the 8th the boos were deafening.
By Michael Collins: Undefeated heavyweight contender Tyson Fury (19-0, 14 KO’s) has already counted tonight’s fight against American Kevin Johnson (28-2-1, 13 KO’s) as a victory in the win column and he’s looking past Johnson towards a much wanted fight against either Vitali Klitschko or his brother Wladimir Klitschko. It remains to be seen whether Fury can get past Johnson, but if he does he’ll likely get one of the Klitschkos in the ring because they’re interested in fighting him.
Johnson said in his conference call with Fury “Height is not a problem. I know a lot of guys that don’t know how to use their key element. It don’t matter if you’re tall or short, I can break you down in 0.5 seconds, especially if your level of opposition..This guy [Fury] isn’t championship level. It’s not as if I’m going against an ‘A’ fighter. That’s not the case for me to bring out my ‘A’ game. So my ‘A’ game will really kill this dude. So what have I learned from fighting tall guys? You really don’t learn much. The tall or the short games are the same thing. It just depends on how skillful. This [Fury] is the most doofiest I’ve met in boxing. This is the most feeble-handed guy I’ve ever seen in boxing history, and you’re going to come in and make a mistake against me? When the bell rings I’m going to go and get him. I haven’t done that in a long time.”
By Michael Collins: This Saturday’s fight between heavyweight contender Tyson Fury (19-0, 14 KO’s) and Kevin Johnson (28-2-1, 13 KO’s) will be a WBC heavyweight title eliminator, according to the visitor.co.uk. The fight will take place at the Odyssey Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
By Michael Collins: Tyson Fury (19-0, 14 KO’s) is hoping that Saturday’s fight against 33-year-old former world heavyweight title challenger Kevin Johnson (28-2-1, 13 KO’s) is a mere formality when he meets up with the American at the Odyssey Arena, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
By Michael Collins: Unbeaten #4 WBC heavyweight contender Tyson Fury (19-0, 14 KO’s) will be taking a big step u in competition against former heavyweight title challenger 33-year-old Kevin Johnson (28-2-1, 13 KO’s) on December 1st at the Odyssey Arena, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. Johnson has fallen out of the top 15 since losing a lopsided 12 round decision to WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko in December 2009.
However, Johnson remains a tough out for a guy like Fury simply because of Johnson’s superb jab, good left hook and experience. Believe it or not, Johnson is a huge step up for the 24-year-old Fury, who has been matched very, very carefully by his promoter Mick Hennessy during Fury’s four year pro career.
Fury said to Sky Sports News “I am getting closer to a shot at Klitschko myself and I’m going to show Vitali why he has to fight me because when I do a number on Johnson and him out of there I’ll have done a better job than Vitali did.”
By Michael Collins: Peter Fury, the uncle and trainer for unbeaten Tyson Fury (19-0, 14 KO’s), says that Tyson is sparring with MMA fighters to get in shape for his upcoming fight which they hope will be against former WBA World heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev in November.
Peter Fury said to Britishboxers.co.uk “He’s got a couple of MMA fighters…excellent sparring for him.”
I’ve never really heard of a professional fighter using MMA fighters to spar with to get ready for a well seasoned veteran like Chagaev. I’m not sure that an MMA fighter would be someone that would be good for a sparring partner given that they’re often guys from wrestling backgrounds with little skills or experience at boxing.
You can pretty much take even the oldest heavyweight from professional ranks and put in a top MMA fighter and put gloves him and he’s likely to lose and lost badly. It takes too many years to get good at boxing, and sticking gloves on an MMA fighter and sparring with them probably is a waste of time.
By James Slater: According to British Boxers.com, who were afforded an exclusive interview, unbeaten British heavyweight star Tyson Fury will next face experienced former WBA heavyweight champ Ruslan Chagaev. The fight is set for November (exact date and venue to be announced).
33-year-old Chagaev, 29-2-1(18) was once looked at as one of the very best heavyweights in the world. Known as “The White Tyson,” the southpaw had an excellent amateur career and his pro career went without a hitch until a 2009 corner retirement loss to world ruler Wladimir Klitschko (arguably Wladimir’s best-ever, most punch-perfect, performance) . Before that one-sided fight, that saw “Dr. Steel Hammer” sweep every minute of every round, Chagaev had, for just over two years, held the WBA crown. Wins over John Ruiz (a final eliminator) Nikolay Valuev, Matt Skelton and Carl David Drummond still look pretty good on the Uzbekistan’s record.
Since his best days, Chagaev has had health problems (hepatitis) and he has also endured long layoffs. 4-1(1) since the loss to Klitschko, Chagaev’s other loss came on points to Alexander Povetkin in a failed attempt at regaining the then vacant WBA strap. So-so wins over Kerston Manswell (WU8) and, last time out, Billy Zumbrun (TKO 3) have seen Chagaev keep a little more active as of late.