There's no point saying you'll bet on something that can never be proved. All I know is that I saw Fury outbox Wlad with superior footwork and scoring punches from unorthodox angles. Seeing as everyone's being call Wlad "robotic" for the last 15 years, and that he's been dominating by using limited robotic tactics consistently and using his size behind it, it's not a real surprise in hindsight that he'd get dethroned by a boxer of Fury's type and size. It's really quite straightforward. Fury had his number.
Tyson Fury tired in the last couple of rounds. Wlad forced the issue only after Fury tired and after Fury had him hurt and wobbling and cut. Wlad's always been the same, since the Brewster defeat anyway. It worked with a lot of opponents. He didn't really, not completely. It definitely cost him the fight against Joshua. If he'd really let his punches flow in round 6 he would have won but he fights his own style. Wlad was the same old Wlad against Joshua. He was up against a guy who was easier to hit and he was up against a man as big and strong as himself who he couldn't easily jab and grab. He was confident of knocking AJ out, and why wouldn't he be. Styles make fights.
All depends on what he's been doing for the last 18 months. But if forced to give an answer I'd say yes. Fury pretty much dominated Wlad. And despite Wlad's great efforts against Joshua I don't buy this notion that he's improved between age 39-41. Of course the more daring and aggressive Klitschko of the Joshua fight might have made it more interesting but at the same time might have opened up and exposed himself in the process as well. I gave Wlad huge credit for his efforts last weekend. He was in stellar shape, sound mind, and fought like a warrior. But I'm also not of the mindset that this was some new and improved brand of Wladimir. He took the necessary measures to have a great last hurrah and against an opponent who's style and lesser experience helped make it possible to do so. Again he still gets loads of credit. But the reality is that Klit's best years are long behind him and I don't want to coin a new figure named " Wembley Waldo" to go along with the likes of " Tokyo Douglas" or something of that nature.
He said he was going to as he no longer felt the pressure of having a title and having to protect it. There was a fantastic interview posted in here some days ago, he was blatantly honest and quite balanced in his self assessments.
He had nothing to lose and everything in the world to gain. When a competitor goes into a contest ( of any kind ) with that mindset he/she is often more dangerous and the best is more likely to come out.
The styles were clearly different but I do think Wlad was a little more cavalier against an opponent he probably knew was going to be coming for him. The clinching was virtually non-existent, which was a whole part of the same old Wlad we didn't see - and the willingness for it to be a fight, rather than a controlled point-scoring push towards the final bell was not something we've seen a whole lot from him really. I do take your point about the Fury's last couple of rounds but I also think Wlad could have pushed the envelope earlier in that bout. Sadly, it's unlikely we will ever know for sure if Wlad could turn the tables on Fury.
I look for Fury to be flat in his next fight. A B effort or perhaps even a C effort. Too long inactive and way too much weight being cut. If he's flat, he's vulnerable and beatable to not just Klitschko, but some other guys as well.
I totally agree with you on this. I don't think it was just a case of super fury just been so much better than klitschko. There was something there that night where klitschko just wasn't the same. If he'd pushed it a little more who knows what would have happened. I'm not claiming klitschko could have beaten fury for sure but there was something fury took advantage of in that fight. Good on fury for winning but it's got shades of Holmes v spinks where one guy was in the right place etc.
Fury went to Wlads back yard where he had everything stacked against him including a ref who wouldn't let him work on the inside and he still WON. Fury on home soil wears Wlad down for a late accumulation stoppage. 'No' is the wrong answer.
I know you are a big Klitschko fan and also Joshua but I get the feeling you are not too high on Fury. Is it his style which you are not a fan of or do you just not rate him? I would be interested to hear your thoughts on Tyson Fury and his strengths/weaknesses and how he compares to other HW's in a H2H sense.
The question should rather be whether Fury would have beaten prime Wlad, given the one sided victory.