Wednesday, 13 July 2016
Fury v Klitschko 2.. Repeat or revenge..?
A date for the rescheduled rematch between newly crowned world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and deposed former champion Wladimir Klitschko has still yet to be set, the cancellation this time offers conflicting stories, from a roadwork mishap in the Lake District, to a foolish incident in a nightclub, regardless the June date was scuppered and a new one impending. The Klitschko camp seem unmoved, yet reliable word has it that Wladimir is priming himself for a do or die effort, in a defiant attempt to exorcise the demons of Düsseldorf.. Klitschko admitted that he lost his championship, not because he faced a superior fighter, but because of a failure within himself to pull the trigger when it mattered. Klitschko 64/4 (53) reigned for over 10 years and very few imagined last November that the ungainly, ponderous traveller from Lancashire would challenge the champions reign, let alone clean house. Fury 25/0 (18) boxed the perfect fight, punched in flurries and never allowed Wladimir the luxuries that his last 22 opponents served up.. To the impartial bystander, Wladimir appeared to turn old overnight, unable to establish himself throughout many of the twelve rounds, yet this time as challenger he vows to capitalise on the rematch clause he never imagined he'd have to excersise.. Fury is an enigma, a contradiction of a man who talks of his distaste for the sport, then declares that he is nothing without boxing in his life.. He's notoriously vocal, controversial even, but don't let the schizophrenia baffle you, he's a big, strong, capable man, who is surprisingly effective at what he does, effective enough to end the ten year reign of a very capable champion.. Before the June cancellation, Fury challenged Wladimir's threats regarding revenge in the rematch, comparing Wladimir's situation to that of Larry Holmes following his loss to the younger Michael Spinks in 1985. Larry threatened he'd overturn the smaller Spinks in the rematch, yet approaching 40 couldn't muster up the substance to extinguish the younger mans energy.. Wladimir might want to fight a different fight in the rematch, but will his 40 year old body allow it when he's confronted once again with the uphill task of a 6 foot 9 inch man, 13 years his junior... I doubt the mind games really played a part last November in Germany, I just don't think Wladimir believed that the comedic Challenger had the rudimentary tools to beat him.. Fury says a lot of things, most of which I don't read much into, but when he utters suggestions of retirement it does plant a seed of uncertainty into the equation, which contradicts his physical capabilities.. If Fury does lose to Wladimir, one gets the feeling that it would be defeat by his own hand, his melancholy attitude sabotaging his chances of success.. I've no doubt that Wladimir will compete this time with some fire in his belly, I don't think a subdued losing effort would sit well with the Ukrainian in retirement.. Whatever the outcome, both men know that there is much more on the line this time around..
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