The guy is 24. Vitali hadnt even gone pro at that age. The guy has 10-15 years left in him, so can we stop writing him off because he walked into a shot from a former Cruiserweight world champ who had just lost a disputed decision to Adamek who is considered a top 5 fighter. He still beat Cunningham by KO,and Cunningham had never been KO'd
Cunningham rarely ever hurts any of his opponents, so it was somewhat surprising and further impressive for USS considering the size difference. But yes, it was a good win. USS would still beat most of the HW's out there; I'd say I'd favor him over all but a short list of maybe 20 HW's.
Because he gets a lot of hype. It's mostly the root cause on the criticisms for a fighter. The hype exceeds the potential.
Who is hyping him? Most people I hear,especially on this page, belittle him at every opportunity. Sure he has a big mouth, but id expect that from an up and comer. He doesnt have some big promotional company behind him,like TR and GB
you can't just learn boxing essentials like footwork, balance, or developing a jab overnight Fury needs to give it 200% of what he can in training if he ever wants to be a top HW
Fury is all right. IF Wlad was hit by that punch he would have been out stone cold. Vitali might have quit against Cunningham too. Vitali quit against Byrd.. people told me byrd was 5'10 and a former olympic middle weight. haha. Fury's aite. he'll never quit against a 5'0 mw
Wlad has never been out 'stone cold' in about 60 pro fights. He wasn't getting dropped as often as Fury at this stage of his career either- nor would he have lost to a fighter like John McDermott. Cunningham is not the fighter Chris Byrd was Fury is a good fighter and has a future, but if you want to compare him to the Klitschkos then he'll have to be held to the same standards, and people will criticise him endlessly because of it.
Yes he's still young and has a lot to learn but he doesn't have the time to learn it. He's being marketed as a contender and will probably get a shot within the next 18 to 24 months as the Cunningham fight was an IBF eliminator for the number 2 spot. If he was being taken along slowly and not marketed as a contender then the criticism would be harsh but with the skills he currently has and the time he has to improve before facing a genuine threat then the criticism is warranted. With all the hype, him slamming other fighters at every given opportunity to draw attention to himself then he and his fans should not be surprised that everyone is casting a critical eye on him.
Wlad was never out stone cold because refs mercy stoppage it before he even had the ability to get to that point. You honestly think if Wlad had continued against Sanders Purrity or Brewster he won't be stone cold? He went down from the air created by Sander's jab towards the end.... if ref allow him to continue he would have died Wlad has been down 14 times in his career Fury 2 2 is smaller than 14. Last I check hey squire... what's bigger 14 or 2. If you think carefullly you will realize 14 is more than 2. Wlad has been down 14 times. Byrd is a good fighter. he was a former middleweight and made Vitali quit dude. They said Vitali was not ready for Byrd's south paw stance.. vitali claim he would be ready in the rematch but there was never a rematch. vitali would never be ready
Actually Wlad got dropped in his 21st fight too and the opponent was a lot worse than Steve Cunningham http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1wlb9pVTFE In 5 fights time he got stopped by Ross Purrity, who with all due respect to him, was rubbish I think your overrating Wlad at this early stage of his career (he was a glass cannon) and underrating Fury and the level of his opposition
you owned him bad. he don't even know wlad was dropped and made to do the morales by some guy name Parnell.... wlad did a 360 turn.
Thing is I was actually watching boxing back then, and Klitschko was seen as some big, stiff chinny euro with no business anywhere near a world title fight but the revisionists like to try and change the facts around.
i agree, fury is fine. Doesnt matter if a guy isn't a huge puncher. He is still a big guy and hit him with an overhand right at full force right on the buttom. Fury recovered well. I'm not concerned, i think fury can still take a shot. And most of the problem was fury fought wreckless. Watch Fury vs another American in Johnson to see a boxing masterclass.
Fury showed he has a weak character. He doesn't take the sport seriously, he suffers from extreme arrogance and thinks his opponents can't hurt him. It doesn't matter how many years he has left in him, he won't survive in this sport - where a single punch can throw you back 5 years - with the attitude he's been showing.