Wladamir Klitschko has now held the heavyweight title for so long, that we have to look at champions like Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, Larry Holmes and Lennox Lewis to find an effective frame of comparison. The question of how he will be separated from the heavyweight title, and by who, is a matter of intense speculation. The heavyweight champions of the past, who achieved similar longevity, offer up a stark warning. They all without exception failed to identify the fighter who would bring their title reign to an end, whether the title was ripped from their grasp, or they were forced to accept that they could no longer hold on to it. In most cases they badly misjudged the landscape of the division, and did not see the fighter who would end their reign as a particular standout. They went from thinking that there was no outstanding challenger, to finding themself on trial for their life. Before Joe Louis fought Walcott, nobody seems to have thought that any of the challengers were a serious threat, and Walcott was not particularly seen as a standout among them. An ageing Ali new that he had to steer clear of a fourth fight with Ken Norton, and he swerved into Leon Spinks. Larry Holmes was criticised for choosing Michael Spinks for his attempt to tie Rocky Marcianos record, and it proved to be a fateful choice. Lennox Lewis thought that kirk Johnson was one of the better challengers out there, and he almost sleepwalked into a fight with Vitally Klitschko. When Wladamir Klitschko either loses the title, or has a good scare that convinces him to get out of the game, the challenge might come from a totally unexpected quarter.
Stranger things HAVE happened, but it would be a bit of a shocker. Fury may legitimately be third or fourth best heavy in the world - the division is absurdly weak. This might help him hold on longer than is normal. I would say he should box on for as long as he is only losing 2 or 3 rounds a fight at most. He basically beat Povetkin - an outstanding heavy - 12-0.
that is grossly inaccurate and frightfully sad, in that this is the s h i t rammed down our throats and sold as legit. there ARE fighters in Britain that would beat him, then there's Europe, then there's the World. the Division might be (is) pathetic, But MAKE these Frauds fight each other and watch the hyped one's drop off. and Fury IS Just That, Hyber-bulls h it!!!
I agree that the prognosis for him fighting on, is about as good as it gets, but there are only so many outcomes. He might choose to retire while on top of his game. He might have a poor performance in a winning effort, and decide that enough is enough. The third option is that he fights on until somebody beats him.
Well at the moment it seems likely that he will do either two or three more and then pack it in. That's his HBO contract seen out plus a homecoming if he does both those fights in the States/here. That sounds and feels about right to me.
He will be 40 next March, I don't care for his style of fighting, but the way he is going he looks like he could go on another 4 or 5 years, if he stays in shape.. Fury is a big oaf,I hope Klitchko does fight him, he will knock him out in 7 or 8 rounds, to much of a talent gap there ..
What a clown. Fury ducked Price, and Cunningham dropped him massively. Wlad will hospitalise Tyson if they meet.
I have to agree with you here unfortunately. I wish people wouldn't over-hype fighters until they have proven themselves against legit boxers. They are building up their own disappointment.
Interesting thread. One thing though, these were different situations. Walcott might have been overlooked, but time proved him a formidable opponent. He might have given a young Louis a tough time. In my judgement, Spinks was just the lucky man at the right time, but subsequenty proved a mediocre fighter. If Wlad runs into a fighter as capable as Walcott, he will have a very tough time. But he might go on for several more years if Spinks level challengers are all that is out there.
Agreed, it seems like these days,Guy's will hype up unproven fighters,because of where he's from or his skin color, or because they want to see another fighter beaten.. Fury hasn't done a damn thing to lead me believe he could beat Klitchko..
Vlad has much more talent and gifted than Fury but Fury brings a bit of craziness, size and belief in himself , lets see how he handles Vlad ****nal and he better not sleep on Fury