By Gabriel Princewill-
Tyson Fury and Deontey Wilder are yet to sign a contract to fight American WBC heavyweight champion, Deontey Wilder is done is inaccurate.
Tyson Fury is reported to have said: “We done this deal in two days. It’s been easy. It’s the most straightforward deal I’ve ever done. ‘I just hope we put on a massive, massive show for the fans.’ ”I’ve heard these promoters speaking bull**** that he’s (Wilder) been making demands that can’t be met, but I haven’t found that to be the case at all”.
However, Frank Warren confirmed that nothing has been signed yet. It would appear that a verbal agreement of sorts has been made, but until the contract detailing every facet of the contract is signed, the deal has yet to been done. Things said verbally can take a different form when articulated in writing, but most importantly, if both parties really want the fight, it will happen.
So, it is fair to say that this fight is highly likely to take place in December as stated, and it will be overly cynical for anyone to think there isn’t a genuine plan to stage the fight. Fury has always perceived a weight advantage of a few stones to be a critical factor in giving him a much needed edge, especially when added to his unorthodox boxing style and aggressive tendency. Surplus weight may in fact be a huge disadvantage for Fury against a man who has always prevailed against much bigger men, but in very good condition, Fury’s size can make beaten him a cumbersome and arduous task.
SHOWDOWN
The former gypsy king’s provisional clash with Wilder is set to be the biggest heavyweight showdown in years, and could get the juices of boxing fans flowing. It will also serve as some compensation to avid fans who waited three long months for Anthony Joshua and Deontey Wilder to strike a deal to meet this year . The fight was to unify the heavyweight title belts.
That aborted fight has now been seized by Fury, who was initially pencilled for four warm up fights before stepping up to the plate and facing a real opponent. His promoter, Frank Warren has been accused of cashing in on the opportunity of facing Wilder, despite his previously expressed view that Tyson Fury need a number of fights to prime him for the big time.
Frank Warren this evening told the Daily Mirror : ”I could sit around and give him another couple of fights, I’m not doing that at all. From my perspective, if he feels he’s ready to go for it – we’ll see what he looks like, he may still look a bit rusty in Ireland but the bottom line is he’s in the ring. “He’ll be coming out of that fight, whatever happens (as long as) he wins the fight, in a better position to go and challenge for the titles he never lost in the ring”.
“(If we wait) Deontay Wilder’s punch isn’t going to go away in a couple of fights – he can punch. The fact of the matter is he’s in there, he fancies it, physically he’s in a good position, and most importantly with Tyson, mentally he’s in a good position, and that’s the main thing – mentally he’s there.”
“My worry with all these heavyweight champions, Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua , is they’ll get beat,” he said. “Both of them could get beat. It’s not difficult to hit Anthony Joshua – hit him on the chin, he can go, we’ve seen it happen.
Deontay Wilder’s come from behind in fights, we know he’s a big puncher, but he’s been behind and shown he can be beaten on points.”Deontay’s coming over (to Belfast) for the fight.
“Tyson’s in good nick, he’s shifted another bit of weight. Get this fight out of the way and he’ll be ready to go. It’s not like he’s got lots of miles on the clock; he’s still a young man.” Warren’s reasoning is right, but is inevitably tantamount to the conclusion that Tyson Fury could have been equally ready for a step up after his fight this month, even if the opportunity to meet Wilder was not available. The considerations here turns out to be a trade off between risk and reward. The risk will be worth taking if there is a realistic belief that it would pay off.
That will still depend on how ring fit Tyson Fury is after he fights in just under two weeks time.
PREMATURE
Fury’s premature announcement may have been orchestrated to be a blast in the face of Anthony Joshua and Eddie Hearns, both of whom have blamed Wilder’s team for the failed bid to stage one of the most intriguing clashes in heavyweight history between Anthony Joshua and Deontey Wilder. If indeed, they have verbally agreed the terms of the fight, with a consensus on all relevant areas of interest, then the unbeaten gypsy man is justified in telling the world that talks took just two days to make a deal. However, the contract has to be signed first to demonstrate the facts of the situation.
FASCINATING
It will be a fascinating clash once officially confirmed, and exhibit a well opportuned vision by the mastermind of this coup. That’s if Fury will truly be ready for a man of Wilder’s athleticism and power after just two fights back from a two year hiatus whilst the confident and ambitious Wilder has been actively knocking out all comers and calling for others to step to the plate. If Fury will not be in optimum condition mentally and physically by December, it would retrospectively have been a foolish and vain decision made in attempt to steal the limelight away from Anthony Joshua, who has been verbally bashed and crucified by the outspoken Fury for allegedly ducking big punching Wilder.
Different versions for the aborted plan for Joshua and Wilder to meet have been given. Wilder’s team have said the contract provided by Hearns for a Joshua-Wilder showdown included a one sided rematch clause in the event of a Joshua defeat, leaving the American without similar privilege if he fell short on fight night. Wilder and his team have blasted Anthony Joshua and Eddie Hearns for not playing fair, with the American subsequently asserting his future stance of a 50-50 split for any future encounter with the golden Londoner, who currently presides over four of the main heavyweight belts.
ADVANTAGE
Joshua’s team have been adamant that their man, being the A side, deserved every advantage for a fight of that magnitude, but Wilder, unbeaten in 40 fights with 39 knockouts, was having none of it. He eventually conceded home advantage and agreed to fight the Londoner in the Uk, but the one sided arrangement the the fight away. Mounting pressure from the WBA body for Joshua to fight mandatory challenger, Alexander Povetkin, drew a line over protracted negotiations.
Tyson and Frank Warren have now cashed in on the void, and are going for gold. This is a dramatic move on the pat of the pair, but it is imperative that Fury be fully ready and primed for the fight , with no excuses if he is conquered. The tall 6ft 9 inch agile fighter, must be able to say before and after, that he was fully ready for the fight.
”me and Deontay have been back and forth for years. I think he’s great for boxing. He’s (Wilder) the most dangerous heavyweight out there, barring none,’ Fury said.
‘But after I kick his ass, I’ll take him out around Las Vegas and show him how to party. Las Vegas is the destination, so I’ve been told. December’s the month, 2018 is the year.
‘Unleash the Gypsy King in Las Vegas and we’ll paint the town red, completely. It’s going to be a massive boxing event, you’ve got two of the biggest heavyweights in the world. The biggest mouths, it’s going to be an epic battle.
‘You’ve got two men who are not afraid to take fights. I went to Germany and beat Wladimir Klitschko, I’m about to go to Ireland to beat Francesco Pianeta, and then the next stop is Las Vegas. I’m on the road.’ A great talker when it comes to boxing, the real question will be whether the Pianetta fight on August 11 will be enough to prepare him adequately for an athletic big puncher like Wilder. Because if Fury is well primed for this fight, he will stand a good chance of victory.
However, it is too early to think that Fury will beat Wilder, even with the near three stones advantage he will have over the American when the time comes. He will need to be in shape to stand a competitive chance, otherwise