Retired former super-middleweight champion Carl Froch has called into question the injury to Wladimir Klitschko that has caused the date for the Ukrainian’s title fight with British challenger Tyson Fury to be moved back.
Froch, writing in his Sky Sports column – and admittedly playing ‘devil’s advocate’ – is questioning the legitimacy of the calf-strain that Wladimir picked up just days after a fun-filled press conference in London that saw Fury arrive in a Batman costume, claiming the giant challenger may well have ‘rattled’ the champion.
“If I am going to play devil’s advocate on Klitschko’s injury, when he does pull out – and he’s done it a few times now – why is it never a visible or provable injury? If he’d ruptured his Achilles and had a scan, fine – but he’s got a calf problem, so we will never know,” Froch said.
Rumours and speculation have been rife over social media on both sides of the fence, questioning whether Fury has indeed got to Klitschko psychologically, or whether it is actually a tactical master-stroke by the champion, upsetting Fury’s momentum, training camp and rhythm, as he prepares for the biggest fight of his life.
“If Tyson has got on his nerves – and he probably has – maybe he [Wladimir] is just unsettling Fury now, showing him who is in control and that he can do what he wants, when he wants.”
No confirmed date for the rescheduled clash has emerged as yet, although late November was touted earlier this week by Fury’s promoter Mick Hennessy along with Klitschko’s manager Bernd Boente promising an official announcement will follow in due course.
“On top of everything [with the delay], it is going to be an even bigger fight now,” Froch added. “I would like Tyson to cause an even bigger upset by beating Klitschko but I am not so sure about that part happening.”
Twitter @Undilutedpoison
