This weekend lineal heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (63-3,53ko) returns to America to fight Philadelphia’s Bryant Jennings (19-0,10ko) at Madison Square Garden in New York, the big Ukrainian fighter’s first fight on American soil in seven long years.
Nobody expects relative novice Jennings to trouble the dominant champion in a fight that is for all intents and purposes a mismatch. Jennings has only been boxing for 6 years in total, amateur AND professional and the question lies more in who is going to be the next star of the division?
Wladimir is now 39 years of age. His brother, the former WBC champ Vitali, has gone to seek what is a meaningful, humanitarian purpose in retirement. He is mayor of Kiev in the brothers’ war-torn homeland of the Ukraine. Its certainly a fight bigger than any he experienced in the ring.
Wladimir himself has asserted many times that he has concerns for his older brother’s position and the fact that he himself has become a new father at almost 40 leads many to believe that the end may be nigh for the man who has beaten all of his era. The era is criticised, (quite rightly) as poor compared to the “golden age” of the 70’s however.
Even later with your Holyfield’s, Bowes and Lewis’ people will say that Wladimir Klitschko couldn’t have competed. Not to mention the “prime Mike Tyson” debate that gives the boxing hardcore such entertainment when talking with so called “casual” fans on social media!!
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Anyway, “eras” are being crossed and that’s a debate for another day. A new age of heavyweight boxing is arguably upon us, and with Wladimir surely only able to dominate so much longer, there are currently only two credible challenges to his throne.
One is newly crowned WBC champion Deontay Wilder (33-0, 32ko) and the other, mandatory challenger for Wladimir’s WBO title, Tyson Fury (24-0, 18ko)
It seems a shame to me that Tyson Fury is determined to fight Wladimir Klitschko next. Despite him being the WBO mandatory, I still see the more winnable fight for him being against America’s Wilder, who let’s not forget, despite being a world title holder, has a very similar record in terms of quality to Fury.
In fact, aside from Stiverne, who is hardly a great fighter, there is a convincing argument that Fury has the BETTER record of the two men. Against quality at least. And that’s a difficult word to ascribe to the record of either man.
That’s why I think it’s such a great fight – in a nutshell.
When promoter Frank Warren announced recently that he had held talks with executives at both HBO and Showtime in the US, I was optimistic we would see Fury challenge Wilder who fights on the latter network.
Fury is WBC #3 so it can be put together easily. But it seems that Fury is determined to challenge himself and enforce the mandatory he holds with the WBO and fight Wladimir. The far harder fight in my opinion.
I spoke to Tyson’s trainer Peter recently and asked him about the Wilder fight. When I said to him I believed it to be a more WINNABLE fight than Klitschko he said;
“We are definitely looking at Wladimir next but yes, I’d agree with you there. I think Wilder is more beatable than Klitschko. I know he’s had 30-odd fights but his best win is the one against Stiverne that gave him his title. Klitschko is definitely the more dangerous opponent for us at the moment.”
So why is Tyson being so stubborn?. A world title is a world title and by beating Klitschko, a man who has more than one, he is doing what “fighting men” do. Taking on the what we all know is the tougher of the two challenges. That’s pride and you can’t knock that out of a man. But Wilder is a world champ too!
Maybe it IS the right time for Fury to try and dethrone Wladimir given the points I listed at the start, but then many of those same reasons could be used for Wilder to fight Klitschko next also. Let’s not forget, Wilder IS the WBC world champion and Wladimir would love to bring that belt back into the family as it was the title his brother vacated.
Fury wont get left in the cold mind you, as provided Klitschko comes through against Jennings, there is 30 days to put the fight together before it goes to purse bids.
It really goes back to the title of my piece and Wilder v Fury for me. It’s for a world title after all. Who do you think will win?
To be fair to both I think it’s a 50/50 fight. And I’m British. Americans may perhaps scoff and say Fury went down to a guy like Cunningham (a blow up cruiser) but he – 1) Got up to win as always does when down and 2) He doesn’t let his chin hang out and isn’t making the same sloppy mistakes as he did 2 years ago.
If his last performance against Hammer and the rematch with Chisora didn’t show people his under-rated boxing skill then nothing will. Switch hitting, power and good movement for a 6ft 9″ heavyweight. All a great sign when boxing a guy like Wilder. His main weapon is power. His technique when throwing big shots is awful. Completely open to the counter when swinging like a windmill, he STILL often leaves his chin hanging out.
Yet saying that we were all impressed against Stiverne and Deontay answered questions in that fight. Namely about his 12 round fitness, his chin and his heart. Questions Tyson Fury has already answered. Like I said, it’s why I believe fighting each other is the best fight for both.
Wladimir Klitschko may well be coming to the end. Personally, I believe he will beat both Wilder and Fury as most credible boxing fans do. If, he does fight these two as most expect, in whatever order, he will be able to retire the most dominant heavyweight fighter of his era. Poor era or not.
Either way, the two biggest heavyweight stars of the future will remain. As I’ve said already I believe Wilder v Fury is a pick ’em. If you have watched the careers of both evolve, you will see why. It’s a great fight in my eyes and the build up would be legendary. Neither man is shy, and having traded verbal barbs in the past, the spice for this one is already there!
There is no word on what Deontay plans to do next. He last boxed against Stiverne in January. Fury last boxed in February. Wladimir is boxing tomorrow night.
Am I the only one who can see the sensible thing to do? Surely not!
Time constraints for Wlad aside, it’s the right fight for both Fury and Wilder. Fight each other. Winner takes all!
Thanks for reading. Don’t forget to drop your Wilder v Fury predictions in the comments and don’t be biased on grounds of nationality! I’m not! It’s a pick em in my eyes!!
Twitter @Undilutedpoison
