By Tim Parsons-
Tony Bellew has referred to plans for Tyson Fury to fight Deontey Wilder this year as a bit of a freak show.
Bellew’s comments come ahead of Tyson Fury’s fight against Francesco Pianeta on Saturday in Belfast. Whilst boxing fans are looking forward to Fury meeting Wilder later this year, Bellew believes Fury will be knicke dout in three rounds. He told Sky Sports:
“At the minute it’s a bit of a freak show with Tyson Fury,” Bellew stated. “But to be fair he has been out of the ring for the best part of three years and he hasn’t lived the best lifestyle, so you can’t expect to come back into this sport and this business and take on top competitors. He is definitely not ready for Deontay Wilder. Pianeta is a 6’5, 17 and-a-half stone southpaw. How is that preparing him – in any way, shape or form – for a 6’7” possibly the biggest puncher in the whole world? I don’t think he’d ever beat Wilder.
Big Puncher: Deontey
I always thought David Haye would beat Fury, because of the styles. Tyson Fury is a vulnerable heavyweight, there’s no two ways about that. He is not a big man who can absorb everything. He is vulnerable and can be hurt. Fury against Wilder would be over in three-rounds, at the most.”
Bellew’s prediction reflects a view shared by many that Tyson Fury is rushing into the fight with Wilder in order to cash in. However, the prediction is a wild guess. Tyson Fury is mobile for a big man his size, and if he is in good condition and really fit, he will definitely last more than three rounds, and quite possibly even beat Wilder, even if on points. Fury has already said he has been training for seven months, which includes plenty of sparring. He has reportedly shed over nine stonnes since his return to boxing, so what matters most is how conditioned and confident he is.
It is right to say that ideally, Fury should be sticking to the plans Warren initially had for him, and have two more fights after Saturday’s fight before meeting someone on Wilder’s calibre. He is taking a big chance, but he will have a lot of time to prepare for the fight, and is very confident. He will be judged according to his performance on Saturday in the same way he will be judged according to how he performs against Wilder in November or December.
“I don’t think he’d ever beat Wilder,” added Bellew. “Styles make fights but when you’re talking about Wilder, no-one knows what he is going to do – because he doesn’t know either”. Nobody knows what Fury is going to do either, but what we know is that he will give it his very best against Wilder. Fury will have taken the fight a bit early, but that may also be what makes a victory for him great if he wins despite having just two fights since his come back after three years away from the ring.
The fight will not be a freak show, but if it turns out to be one, then Fury’s name will be over without doing much for Wilder’s name except to make him a lot of money. For the sake of the sport we have to hope Ffury and Wilder will be a good fight when it happens. A freak show against Wilder , in which Fury is knocked out easily by Wilder will make a mug of Fury and his team.