Tyson Fury’s Cancellation May Prevent Wladimir Klitschko’s Unfinished Business?
By: Ken Hissner
When Vitali Klitschko fought Lennox Lewis he was getting the better of Lewis but a severe cut stopped the fight and Lewis retired leaving Klitschko’s dream of a rematch forever gone.
Could this also be the situation that Wladimir “Dr. Steelhamer” Klitschko is now facing with the many postponements by Tyson Fury to give him a rematch? At 64-3 Klitschko was about to have his final bout defending against Tyson Fury for possibly his twenty-fifth title defense matching Joe Louis’ defenses in the heavyweight division.
Whether it was Fury’s playing Batman and jumping over tables at the press conference or domestic problems it was not the same Klitschko in his losing to Fury. Real boxing fans were not impressed with Fury. He even accused Klitschko of “throwing the fight” last November. When Muhammad Ali defeated Sonny Liston the first time he was such a large underdog it was wondered if he bet money on Ali a threw the fight. We know he threw the rematch.
Did Klitschko also “throw the fight” with Fury to look as bad as he did with no offense to mention? He could have made a bundle of money if he did. Only defeating Fury will help keep Klitschko’s legacy.
If New Zealand’s Joseph Parker, 20-0, gets by Alexander Dimitrenko, 38-2 who is not ranked this Saturday to retain his WBO No. 1 rating he could be an opponent for the vacant title. Parker has somehow gained the IBF and WBO No. 1 spot. Klitschko is No. 2 in both the WBA and WBO organizations. It’s very doubtful he would fight Luis “King Kong” Ortiz the No. 1 WBA contender or the IBF champion Anthony Joshua who is a prospect of the highest level though the IBF champion with less than twenty bouts under his belt. Even WBC champion Deontay “Bronze Bomber” Wilder, 37-0, may be avoided by Klitschko. Facing Parker makes the most sense if Fury is stripped of his WBO title. At age 40 Klitschko is ready to retire but for one fight for a vacant title so he ends his career with a win.
Fury may be in the same situation Oliver McCall was in in his rematch with Lewis. He left a “rest home” to fight and broke down crying during the match in between rounds. He was not mentally fit to fight let alone against Lewis. Fury should call it a day and go out a winner holding both the WBA and WBO titles.
Only time will tell but one thing for sure is Klitschko will fight before the year’s end before calling it a day title fight or not. He’s put too much time in training and needs to be home with the mother of his baby Kaya and get married.
