British Boxing News
Whether loved or loathed the Mancunian giant inspires opinion among all those who watch him fight, or even just hear him speak. Many including this author see massive potential on a world level in Tyson Fury; however, large bastions of boxing’s faithful will be very quick to arrogantly dismiss him as an overblown hype job. The polarizing views fans have about Tyson Fury are not quite as easy to understand as one might think.
Tyson Fury, understandably angry and frustrated over his fight with Dereck Chisora, set for this Saturday, falling through, still wants to box on July 26th. After having whipped himself into obviously good fighting shape, Fury – who has, amazingly, seen three of his last four bouts fall apart due to injuries suffered by his opponent – is looking for a short notice replacement.
It’s not clear yet whether he will actually fight, but Team-Fury obviously want to see action. Speaking exclusively to The Morecambe Visitor, Peter Fury said there is a short list of possible opponents who could be brought in with just four days to go.
But one man who will not be getting the call is 42-year-old American southpaw Tony Thompson, who Tweeted how he would take the fight.
As fight fans have most probably read by now, this Saturday’s WBO heavyweight title eliminator between British heavyweights Tyson Fury and Dereck Chisora is off, as Chisora suffered a fractured hand in his final day of sparring. This is bad news for all concerned, but it is especially unimaginably frustrating news for Fury and his whole team.
As Fury himself or the fans didn’t need reminding, this fight being off marks the THIRD time in a row the unbeaten giant has worked his ass off in training camp only with absolutely nothing to show for it. Twice Fury set up camp for a clash with David Haye, only for Haye to get himself injured ahead of both dates. Now, with a long training camp under his belt and a number of press conferences and other media duties fulfilled, Fury is sure to be, well, furious at his rematch with Chisora falling apart. What must be so annoying for Fury is the fact that all three of his scheduled bouts fell apart so close to the actual day of the fight.
Kell Brook has vowed to prove he is a World class fighter by ripping the IBF Welterweight crown from Shawn Porter when they clash at the StubHub Center in Carson, California on August 16.
Brook has had to bide his time for his first World title fight with three clashes against previous champion Devon Alexander cancelled through injury to both men.
The unbeaten Sheffield star will travel to America in two weeks’ time to complete his training camp, and Brook says that the time has come to show the world he belongs at the very top.
Whilst both ‘Anthony’s’ have had varying degrees of success since turning pro, the British born fighters both of Nigerian descent have taken different career paths over the last two years to arrive at where they are today.
Since signing with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Sport, it would be fair to say that Anthony Joshua has had things relatively easy. His current record is now 6-0 with all six wins coming inside the first two rounds. Since his last fight (an 83-second demolition of American Matt Legg), the murmurs for a ‘step up’ in class have grown louder and more persistent.
‘’It is great to be back here in Wembley and back to world-class boxing,’’ said Groves at today’s press conference. ‘’Last time I was here it didn’t go the way I had hoped but I showed that I belong at the top level. In boxing sometimes all it takes is one punch, and it took just one punch to derail my world title ambitions in May. But we are back on the road and the journey will continue on 20th September at the SSE Arena in Wembley.
Of the four losses that soil European heavyweight champion Dereck Chisora’s 24 fight ring slate, none grate more with Team Del Boy than the concession of his British and Commonwealth titles to Tyson Fury at Wembley Arena three years back.
That night the man from Finchley turned up for duty sporting a soft midriff and even softer psyche and, despite sporadic successes, he was comprehensively schooled over 12 rounds.
All concerned concede that, that shambolic evening, it was an imposter of the rumbling, rugged ring warrior who’d gone to war 14 times before, and in nine starts since.
The Manchester giant has been pushing a three and half ton tractor at his Bolton training camp to build up his strength and power to meet Chisora head-on in the biggest heavyweight grudge match in recent years.
Fury, 25, who inflicted the first defeat to Chisora’s record in July 2011, is not taking any for granted this time around and is preparing even harder with so much on the line in the crucial rematch.
The scheduled match-up between Kell Brook and Shawn Porter is a highly intriguing one; both are unbeaten, spearheading the uprising talent, in the welterweight division, from the UK and the US respectively. For Kell Brook, the pressure is especially intense given that he’s long chased an Amir Khan bout, pulled out of a Devon Alexander clash (who Porter previously toppled), and yet remains relatively untested. Add all of these ingredients to the contrasting fight-styles of these combatants, and it’s easy to foresee a highly entertaining, explosive fight.
Shawn Porter’s style is unorthodox. He’s short but powerfully built. In the ring he stays on the outside, well outside of his opponent’s range, and cleverly accentuates his lack of height by keeping low. Then, almost cobra-like, he’ll literally launch himself into his opponent with straight punches and bombarding them with body shots on the inside. His style does bear similarities to Pacquiao of old, where he uses the element of surprise by jumping in with hard straight shots. It’s actually quite fitting that they were former sparring partners. However, unlike Pacquiao, Porter likes to fight inside. He can also use both hands and bends at the waist. His arsenal together with his awkward style makes him a very tricky opponent.
Anthony Joshua MBE expects the toughest test of his professional career on July 12 when he faces Matt Skelton at the Echo Arena in Liverpool live on Sky Sports.
Joshua has raced to 6-0 with all six wins coming inside the first two rounds and now the Olympic gold medal star steps into his first scheduled eight-round contest against the former British, European and Commonwealth champion and World title challenger.
Skelton has amassed 36 pro fights and stands just shy of 200 rounds, and while Joshua is preparing for a tough fight, he says he will not be taking silly risks to prove his chin can take a punch at the top level.