Wlad magnet beckons Fury
TYSON FURY stands poised tonight between the pinnacle of a mega-fight with world heavyweight supremo Wladimir Klitschko and the abyss of absurdly premature retirement, at just 26.
The giant Manchester traveller can nail down a multi-world title challenge to Klitschko with an impressive victory over Christian Hammer at London’s O2 Arena.
Yet Fury is vowing to hang up the gloves if he loses to his little-known German opponent.
The prospect of Fury being granted his wish of taking on Klitschko, the long-time holder of all but one of the main heavyweight belts, will be strengthened by the presence at ringside of American TV mogul Ken Hershman.
The president of sports for the HBO cable TV network plans to evaluate the box-office potential of Klitschko v Fury. And Hershman arrives just as promoter Frank Warren has agreed a Fury-Klitschko fight in September. Warren says: ‘I have no doubt that this fight will happen now. We are looking at a football stadium in September.’
Whether that takes place in Britain or Germany is up for negotiation. Warren always tries to secure home advantage for his boxers but Klitschko has regularly been drawing 60,000-plus crowds to football stadiums in his adopted Germany throughout his 10-year reign as the titular heavyweight champion.
As their man is champion, Team Klitschko will carry greater weight in such decisions.
All depends, of course, on Fury not being caught out by his vulnerability to meaty blows to his chin and Hammer vows: ‘ I’m coming to spoil the party by knocking him out.’
Fury should handle Hammer comfortably, however. He says: ‘If I can’t beat this guy I have no place even thinking about f i ghting Klitschko. If I were to lose this one there would be no point me carrying on. I would give up boxing.’
Yet he needs ring time, especially given a long spell of inactivity following the cancellation of two big dates with David Haye.
His plans would also collapse if Klitschko were to lose to unbeaten American Bryant Jennings in a voluntary defence of his titles at New York’s Madison Square Garden on April 25. That, too, is highly unlikely but with the heavyweights one punch can change the world order.
Fury also has plans to face US knockout sensation Deontay Wilder, who has just won the WBC world title which is the only belt not in Klitschko’s possession.
Chris Eubank Jnr would appear to face a somewhat sterner test at the O2 than Fury when he challenges Dmitry Chudinov for the WBA interim middleweight title.
But the Russian’s lack of speed and mobility ought to be ideal for Eubank and I expect him to join Fury in the winner’s enclosure, both by mid-fight stoppage.
TV: Fury-Hammer and Eubank-Chudinov is live on BoxNation from 7pm; Frampton-Avalos (see above) is live on ITV1 from 10pm, preceded by the undercard on ITV4.