By James Slater: Whether you believe unbeaten British heavyweight hope Tyson Fury is the real deal or not, fans everywhere have to agree that the 23-year-old is exciting each and every time he fights. Last night’s crude yet thrilling brawl with the previously unbeaten Neven Pajkic of Canada is a perfect case in point: Fury was hit himself and he hit his opponent plenty, and the British and Commonwealth ruler experienced his first trip to the canvas in the 2nd-round.
As with his last fight, against Nicolai Firtha, Fury, 17-0(12) recovered from being hurt and rallied to win last night, getting a somewhat premature-looking stoppage. But as ragged as Fury looked in both fights, his willingness to go to war makes him value for money. In time, if he fails to, as he himself put it, “wake up” properly in the early rounds of a fight, Fury may well be put down for good – for now, however, the 6’9” warrior stands out as one of the most watchable young big men on the scene.
Promoter Mick Hennessey’s belief that his fighter is destined to become the world champion was not affected by last night’s knockdown. Hennessey said that as soon as Fury “stops getting drawn into a gunfight and starts being smart” he will be “the best heavyweight on the planet.” Such praise will be seen as a stretch by many, but the promoter believes in his fighter.
There has been much talk of Fury facing Alexander Povetkin down the road, and then the Klitschko brothers. Hennessey says Fury “can beat Povetkin tomorrow,” but that he is “looking bigger and is better than that.”
The plan now, according to the promoter when speaking at yesterday’s post-fight press conference, is for Fury to fight again in January, in Blackpool, and then in his U.S debut, at Madison Square Garden, in March.
“I’m going to have a big next year with plenty of fights, plenty of wins and plenty of excitement,” Fury said. “I wouldn’t fear going in with any man in the world. I believe I can beat any man.”
Whatever you think about his claims of being able to beat “any man,” you must agree with Fury on the guaranteed excitement he says he will provide next year and beyond.
Fights against some well known American heavyweights – such as a Sam Peter, an Oliver McCall (if he can get licensed), a Kevin Johnson or a Shannon Briggs – would be especially interesting for Fury. Let’s hope that planned U.S debut comes off as scheduled.