Ahead of this weekend’s heavyweight clash from New York that pits dominant lineal champion Wladimir Klitschko against Philadelphia’s Bryant Jennings, Frank Warren has written in his weekly column for the Independent in the UK to talk of his hopes for British #1 Tyson Fury, and how he wants the fight for his man against Wladimir in the UK.
Fury is the mandated challenger to Wladimir’s WBO belt and should Klitschko beat Jennings Saturday night as all expect him to, then Warren and the Klitschko’s have 30 days to put the fight together before it goes to purse bids.
Warren wrote of Klitschko;
“Klitschko likes to hand pick opponents to suit his style, which is why I believe he twice ducked Dereck Chisora (before big bro Vitali took on the job). Jennings fits that bill. ”
“Tyson Fury, like Chisora – doesn’t. Plenty of people scoff at the lippy traveller’s chances of toppling Wlad, but his Uncle Peter seems to have got him physically and mentally in shape as of late.”
“At 6ft 9 he is a couple of inches taller, and at 26, some 13 years younger. One also has the question of motivation. Will boxing have become of secondary importance now Wladimir has found fatherhood later on in life? He admits his thoughts are often with brother Vitali, who has been elected mayor of Kiev – Capital of their troubled homeland. All of which can be a distraction when you are preparing to match Joe Louis’ record of 27 heavyweight title fights”
I spoke to Tyson’s trainer Peter recently, and he told me that his man has his heart set on enforcing his challenge to Wladimir, and that the fight the fans really want to see, (v American Deontay Wilder), is of secondary importance to him right now. It’s a shame as Frank Warren has been in talks with Showtime in the States and that got my hopes up that it was Wilder he’d fight next, but no…..Klitschko it is. (provided he beats Jennings)
I find that odd because in my eyes Wilder is the far more winnable fight for Tyson Fury, even if he has been decked before. He always gets up to win and will be the taller, more skilled fighter if he got in with the big punching Alabama man. It’s a far closer contest for me than EITHER of them fighting Klitschko, who maybe, just maybe is finally trying to be a little more exciting when he fights. Last time out vs Pulev a case in point.
With a skeptical American public watching on HBO, Wladimir has perhaps finally decided to embrace the entertainment side of the game and Warren’s hopes of getting Klitschko v Fury on in the UK are high according to Warren and the Fury team. Even in America, surely that fight has some draw?, though admittedly nowhere near the interest than if it were Wilder in the opposite corner.
However, Warren concluded with the fact that he is well aware of the hardball tactics played by the Ukranian fighter’s team, saying;
“Some of the things that have gone on behind the scenes when they fight in Germany would shock you. They are past masters at trying to mess up their opponents mind. Great fighters though- IN and OUT of the ring.”
Provided he comes through the relative novice in Jennings, it’s looking more and more likely that Klitschko v Fury is what we will see next.
Twitter @Undilutedpoison