By Tim Parsons-
Tyson Fury-Britain’s former heavyweight loudmouth- has likened himself to Mohammed Ali in a recent declaration that he will beat IBF and WBA world champion, Anthony Joshua, when the pair eventually meet.
The 6ft 9 inches unorthodox gypsy boxer said a fight between himself and Anthony Joshua would be likened to Muhammad Ali’s ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ with George Foreman. Eddie Hearns has promised the world that his man will have three big fights in 2018, which will include Tyson Fury, and America’s WBC heavyweight champion, Deontey Wilder.
Ever since Tyson Fury was sidelined following the defeat of Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015, Anthony Joshua has taken his spot by seizing two of his belts- the WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles. As Fury lost his license and world title belts, Joshua has become Britain’s leading heavyweight and major attraction. He captured the IBF title and then beat Wladimir Klitschko last April to add the WBA title, making him a two weight champion.
On Saturday, Anthony Joshua dispatched of Carlos Takam at the principality stadium, after a tough night in which Takam fought bravely for 10 rounds with a dangerous eye cut. The referees decision to stop the fight drew sighs and disappointment, but Takam had taken so much punishment already that the hard blows he was receiving in that round could have become lethal had Joshua landing only a few more. Takam was not out of his feet, but the damage to his eye meant that every blow was adding and building to a potentially catastrophic end. Boxing fans wanted to witness that conclusive end, but it wouldn’t have been entertaining news if Takam had ended in a coma.
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Since Joshua’s last fight, speculation about who would win a match between powerful and popular Londoner and Tyson fury has grown. Out of a random sample of 30 boxing fans selected by the eye of media.com after last Saturday’s successful title defence by Anthony Joshua, 16 of them said they believed Tyson Fury would win. 11 said they felt Joshua would win, and 3 of them said they were not sure who would win. That sample may not be accurately reflective of what a wider sample would shown, but Tyson Fury believes most people will pick Joshua to beat him. Fury is more mobile than Joshua altogether, and will likely come in heavier than the Londoner when their big night happens. The intriguing thing is that Fury’s extra height and bigger weight does not prevent him from being agile and mobile, but he lacks the punching power of Anthony Joshua. His two year hiatus from the ring will be expected to make him quite rusty, but that depends on his conditioning and preparation. Wladimir Klitschko looked very fit ad well conditioned when he clashed with Joshua in April, despite being out of the ring for 18 months.
It will be about two and a half years out of the ring by the time Fury makes a return, and he will have more against him to compensate for his ring rust long absence from the ring. Joshua will continue to gather momentum before then, and so should be the easy pick for victory if Fury takes him on his very first time when he returns. A warm up fight for Fury will be more ideal, to shake off the rust, but this means Joshua will still be gaining more experience and confidence whilst Fury prepares himself through preparation and practise.
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Tyson Fury is steadily pursuing the return of his license from the British Board of Governors, but there is still no set date for the resolution of his issues in the hands of the UK Anti Doping Agency. Fury believes Joshua is a comparable figure to Foreman, a revered fighter in the 70’s who had 37 knockout wins in 40 fights prior to facing Ali in Zaire in October 1974. Foreman in those days was even more menacing than Joshua, knocking out dangerous opponents like Sonny Liston in 2 rounds. He was arguably even more intimidating and fearsome thatn Iron Mike Tyson in his prime. Mohammed Ali, outsmarted him in the famous 1974 ‘Rumble in the Jungle”, stopping him in 8 rounds t the amazement of the American and world media.
Fury likens himself to Ali, who was stripped of the heavyweight title and was exiled from boxing for three years because of his refusal to be drafted in the US Army for the Vietnam War before returning to defeat Foreman in one of boxing’s biggest upset wins.
Today, Fury posted an image of the two all-time great combatants on Instagram, along with the caption: “This is what’s to come! The old champ coming back to fight a man who every1 thinks will ko me, same as Ali vs Forman the stylish Ali vs the mummy Forman! We all know what happens in this fight!
“I know you all got me whooped, but I will not lay down or be afraid of some muscles and I have the mentality of a winner a man who has never lost a fight.” Fury is a mentally strong fighter, with a winning spirit, but so is Joshua. They have different styles- Joshua is orthodox with a heavy punch, but Fury is an unpredictable boxer who knows his way around the ring. Fury also fights with a high work rate at times, but other times, works on various technics by slowing and varying his pace. If Fury comes in shape and is well conditioned, it will make for a great fight, but the overall advantage has to be with Joshua. to win a fight with Fury immediately after he returns. If Fury shakes off his rust with at least a fight, he could be a serious threat to Joshua’s reign.
He knows Joshua kind of won the IBF belt, by default, after he beat Charles Martin and took the belt Fury once had, but was stripped off him. The more Fury watches Joshua’s fights, the more he tends to believe he will beat him roundly, the way Mohammed Ali surprised the world when he beat George Foreman in Zaire. In Fury’s case, the surprise will not compare with that of Mohammed Ali if he wins, because many will expect him to win. If Tyson Fury is the underdog for that fight, it won’t be by a long mile at all, it will be very close. It will all depend on how both Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury look in their immediate last fights before they meet. There is also every chance that Joshua meets Deontey Wilder first, before meeting Fury. If that happens, Joshua will have to first beat Wilder to meet Fury, and again, only a victory will make Joshua v Fury still an attractive fight, but Joshua will be favourite to beat Fury, if he beats Wilder fair and square
Fury also took a swipe at Wilder in his social media post. He said: “A true champion coming back to claim his thrown [sic], This is my era they are from my time, I must destroy them. AJ & Wilder I’m coming back for you pair my mission is seek & destroy the only thing on my mind is destruction who ever gets in my way will be dealt with accordingly. There’s only 1 winner & that’s the fans! Let’s make the heavyweights . A lot of questions will be answered by the time next year, or even much earlier in 2018.
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