Can we please stop with this "Fury ducked Wlad" narrative? (Prepare for an essay).

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Reuben Jones, Sep 2, 2025.


  1. BlackDog

    BlackDog Active Member Full Member

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    But he ducked reematch with Wlad.

    Fury signed a contract with a rematch clause even though he wasn't obligated to do so as the official challenger. He did it for additional benefits (presumably financial), as reported on Polish websites.
    However, he was in poor physical shape, wasn't doing well in sparring sessions, and his father spoke about it.
    And the guy probably knew they'd come after him for doping (a very suspicious case, and to this day I don't understand why someone didn't face criminal charges for concealing it, because it was a real bummer that he even faced Wladimir).

    All this talk of depression is bull**** for the naive. Anyone would have a breakdown and a drastic mood drop after months of partying with cocaine and alcohol from morning to night, when they suddenly have to give it all up and start running 15 km a day and working hard. Anyone who's ever enjoyed a bit more partying knows what I'm talking about, and you don't have to be an experienced drug user. Drink for a week and you'll see how destructive it is to your well-being when you finally need to get your act together.

    It's easy to see by analyzing his history that Fury doesn't have any mental health issues, or at least doubts them. In fact, his depression ended the very moment Wlad's problem resolved, along with the doping and unofficial suspension. Since then, he hasn't had a single breakdown and is doing great, with the only fluctuations in his form stemming from his being a party animal and a lazy person.

    Was he afraid of Wlad? In that condition, he probably would have taken a beating. Besides, he outplayed Wlad quite a bit. Klitschko did all his training in a padded ring, and Fury threatened to refuse the fight unless the foam was removed. It was clear Klitschko wasn't comfortable with his footwork afterward, but that's just my opinion.

    And Klitschko woke up after the first fight. Would he have won against the optimal Fury? I don't know. Years later, I think Fury could pull it off, given his speed of recovery from trouble. Ultimately, Fury is a slightly more capable boxer. He's 5-10% better than Wladimir, mainly due to his stamina, as Wladek was a better athlete. The Wlad-Fury fight is a bit like Vitali vs. Wladek, simplified. None of this changes the fact that Fury fled the rematch, and the fact that he never even hinted at fulfilling his commitment after his return (Peter Fury only once mentioned Klitschko as a potential opponent in an interview) clearly demonstrates that he had no intention of fighting Wladimir.
     
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  2. Reuben Jones

    Reuben Jones New Member Full Member

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    I hate to see this kind of talk. This is why I decided to make this post. You don't know ANYTHING of what was going on in Fury's mind at the time, you're not him. You don't have that kind of ability. Not even the best of psychologists can truly know 100%. If Fury had've killed himself, I bet most people on here would've been like 'R.I.P. - what a tragedy, mental health sucks' etc etc. People only care when someone dies. If someone manages to pull through it and come out better on the other side, no one cares. Can't have been that bad cos he's still here, I guess.

    It's similar to how when a boxer dies of brain injuries, everyone wants to do something about it. But if a fighter "quits" too softly for everyone's liking, he's ridiculed for it.

    People are so judgmental when it comes to boxers. They're human beings at the end of the day, who get hit in the head for a living. They have issues just like everyone else. They're not just there for our entertainment. And yes, sometimes those issues might result in them pulling out of fights. Because being in a boxing ring with someone trying to shut your lights out is the last thing someone needs if they're going through something. See Lewis-McCall 2.
     
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  3. Slyk

    Slyk Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Fury dominated. He went to Germany convinced he could do something that no one thought he could do, then he did it without hardly taking a punch. Why in the world would a mentally fit Fury NOT think he could do the same thing again? It makes no sense.

    He did not duck Vlad. He didn't suddenly become afraid of the guy he just toyed with (and had apparently done very well against in sparring at a mere 22 years of age). He went off the rails, it's pretty obvious. You think he was so afraid of the guy he easily beat that he ate himself to 400lb and did a handful of coke every night?
     
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  4. BCS8

    BCS8 VIP Member

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    Fury when faced with the rematch

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  5. BlackDog

    BlackDog Active Member Full Member

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    Cool story but I dont have 10 years old.
    All his bad mood and depresion end excatly when Wlad retire and his ban from PED abuse end. And never comeback to this day...
    You can belive him- have no problem with this. I dont.
    And yes after he comeback he never even mentioned Wlad name. Even once. Its pretty obvious that was duck.
     
  6. SouthpawsRule

    SouthpawsRule Active Member Full Member

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    Imagine being at the brink of suicide from depression due to mental illnesses only for some random nobodies on the internet to say you are ducking a guy you already beat comfortably.
     
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  7. Reuben Jones

    Reuben Jones New Member Full Member

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    Exactly. It doesn't make sense. The reason Fury's downfall came after the Wlad victory was because he'd achieved his goal and had nothing to concentrate on anymore apart from his issues. It just proves how even today, the stigma is still there. I suppose it's not surprising though... the boxing community was probably always going to be one of the hardest to convince when it comes to men's mental health.
     
  8. BCS8

    BCS8 VIP Member

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  9. Kiwi Fish

    Kiwi Fish Active Member Full Member

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    Thats my thinking, if Fury had the capacity why would he throw it away to get fat and depressed? It doesn't make sense, unless he had mental health issues. If Fury had the choice I have no doubt he would have wanted to do the rematch school Wlad and reign over the division.
     
  10. MaccaveliMacc

    MaccaveliMacc Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Well, you would think after the Whyte fight he would have wanted to reign over the division too, but he chose to "retire" and then fight Chisora and Ngannou instead of the top contenders.