When heavyweight champion Tyson Fury makes his first lineal defense on July 9 against former long reigning champion Wladimir Klitschko, he will be attempting to do something only half a dozen champions in boxing history have ever tried to do before – successfully make a first defense in an immediate rematch (with no in between bouts) against the former champ he had just beaten to become the champion..
Fury scored a very unexpected upset win against Klitschko last November, when he thoroughly outboxed Wladimir in practically every round en route to the lopsided decision.. Most observers were expecting Wladimir to make relatively easy work of Fury, the way he had with so many foes before him during his long stretch of successful title defense. But Fury’s size combined with his superior speed, reflexes, and movement led to a one-sided encounter. Fury constantly befuddled Klitschko with movement, and prevented Wladimir from forming any type of rhythm. Not only was the fact that Fury won unexpected, but the manner and ease in which he won was even more surprising.
With the victory over Klitschko, Tyson Fury joined an exclusive club of men who have been recognized as the legitimate lineal heavyweight world champion, joining the ranks of Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, and Lennox Lewis to name a few. Whatever happens on July 9, Fury’s name will forever be a member of this unique fraternity of heavyweight boxing champions. But will Fury be a flash in the pan? Or are we perhaps looking at the next all time great in the making? July 9 will go a long way towards getting Fury onto one path or another.
As the 7th heavyweight champion to ever make his first defense in an immediate rematch against the man he had just beaten to become champion, it will be interesting to see if Fury can succeed. In the six previous instances, it is split 50-50. Three times the new champion was able to once again emerge victorious. The other three times the former world champion was able to reclaim his thrown of heavyweight supremacy. What will happen in the case of Tyson Fury? This edition of Rummy’s Corner attempts to explore this theme while also providing a quick recap of the lineage of the heavyweight championship of the world. Please watch and enjoy!
