Before people get out their pichforks, I'm saying I don't find Fury's displays against Wilder in both fights impressive. I'm not saying that I don't find his draw and win against Wilder impressive, in fact, I've never really seen anything special about Fury except for his size and coordination for a 6 ft 7 inch 273+ boxer. I just think that Wilder was poor in both fights, especially the second fight where he looked like a novice who had been going to the boxing gym for only a week. The only time Fury has not looked ordinary is when he ran for his life against Wlad in and out of the ring, yet he was crap offensively and his defensive display was made to look good because an Emmanuel Stewardless Wlad was timid and gun-shy. Pound for Pound fighters are special fighters, it's not just their resume that's great, it's their display in the ring that makes them make the pound for pound list. So I don't think Fury is a pound for pound fighter because if you shrink him to a sub 200 lbs fighter and take away his size, weight, and height advantage he would be very ordinary. Fury not being a pound for pound calibre fighter is evidenced by his abysmal performance against euro level and extremely limited Wallin. On the other hand, Joshua looks spectacular in the ring in every performance bar Takam and Parker. Joshua would be just as effective whether he was 130 lbs or his current ~245 lbs. Joshua passes the eye test in flying colors, and is easily a top ten pound for pound fighter. Joshua like Tyson is one of the few heavyweights to make the top ten pound for pound list.
Wilder, the baddest man on the planet, also the biggest puncher in boxing history! Just look at what Fury did to him physically and mentally Levels.
''If you shrink Fury, he's ordinary''. If you shrink him below 200lbs, and we're taking away his height, reach, size ... then you have to be fair in your fantasy and take away the disadvantages his massive size brings. See, if he's fast and agile and has a great engine and skills WHILE being massive (which typically limits these traits), when you shrink him, he's suddenly SUPER fast, SUPER agile, has SUPER silky skills and ridiculous endurance. So you add that to his smarts and will to win and general x factors and you don't have an ordinary fighter at all, do you? You have a rare, champion fighter below 200lbs. Fury doesn't rely on massive power or having to fight on the outside, so he would survive the Shrinkatron pretty well. On the other hand, if you take away AJ's size advantage, what do you have? Oh, you thought AJ wasn't reliant on being one of the biggest fighters? You thought he was a small HW like Povetkin? You take away AJ's super HW size and power advantage and you get a fighter with average everything and a quitter mindset. He isn't a champion after going through the Shrinkatron. Though you'd still get your butt cheek signed by him, I'm sure.
You think he looked spectacular in losing to Ruiz? Or even in the rematch? Solid and effective in the rematch, yes... but 'spectacular'? Even vs Pulev was more routine than impressive. I would say Joshua hasn't impressed since the Wlad fight, in which he realised the uber aggressive style he used up until then was not sustainable. Since then 'spectacular' would be one of the last words that come to mind to describe his style. 'Effective' would be more suited. Re: Fury... basically you seem to be saying, take away his main physical assets and he'd not be as good. Not sure many people will disagree with that, or with that observation directed at any fighter...
The Wilder-Fury fights were big in the US. Especially the second one. The American press got behind Wilder. He was the first American HW champ in awhile. He was knocking people out and he looked the part. That Fury completely took him apart in the second fight was a shock to many in the US. Fury did that by reinventing himself and taking the fight to the puncher. He totally took Wilder out of his element. Fury said he noticed something about Wilder late in the first fight. He adjusted accordingly in the second fight. It was to me one of the most impressive things I've seen. The great ones can adjust and fight as they need to to win. Ali did it as his physical skills diminished. Foreman did it as he got older, fatter and slower. AJ did it in the 2nd fight with Ruiz. I give AJ a lot of credit for that but that victory was tainted by the despicable condition Ruiz was in.
While I think Wilder's boxing skills are laughably poor, his size and power and atomic right hand are not. Fury handled him like a boss, and I for one was impressed. The first fight I expected him to lose, because of poor physical conditioning, and he boxed rings around Wilder. The second fight I expected him to do the same but better, and instead he came out and Hagler'ed Wilder. There's plenty to be impressed about there.
I was never impressed with the first Wilder fight, not sure why it was considered a great fight.... I have it slightly above the Fury Klitschko fight, which was the worst fight I've ever seen in my life, and the only reason the Wilder fight was more interesting was because of Wilder and his power, not Fury. I really think it's evidence that our sport has been dumbed when you can walk away from that fight calling it entertaining when all Fury did was put his hands behind his back and make faces and stick his tongue out.... And I'll bet the same people who called that fight 'great' also accuse Mayweather of being a 'boring' fighter because he doesn't stand directly in front of his opponents and let them tee off on his head. As far as the second fight, I have no criticism for Fury. He fought a great fight, used every one of his advantages and dominated Wilder. I've always said if Fury always fought that way, I would have been a fan of his this whole time
I don't think what you says is inaccurate, outside of Fury being 6'7" tall. I think he's a little taller that that . More like 6'8" tall. I agree that Joshua is the better of the two. I also think Fury is hiding a bit of a suspect chin, as medium level punchers have floored and stunned him before. What's going to happen when he face a man with POWER and SKILLS? His defense is overrated. Who has Fury beaten? Wld at age 39, and a very over rated Wilder? Yep, those are the only two visors he has in ring magazine's top ten, and IMO there is a reason he's picking top 30-60 guys for title defenses who aren't very fast.
Wladimir Klitschko, one of the most skilled and most powerful men to ever enter the sport not good enough for you? Also Cunningham, Hammer and Chisora were all in the Ring top 10 if you want to play that game.
I'm not impressed by this thread I think Wilder did pretty good in the first fight, the hold onto touch of death power in till the 12th round is pretty worrisome...and Fury cracked him just before he threw it.
At age 39, we are not taking close to a prime Wlad. Cunningham flooring and up on points was an exposure. Fury was on PED's for Hammer ( 100% ) , and likely other matches, he was caught a bit later. Where the heck was Cunningham who was also older and Hammer in the Ring Magazine top ten at heavyweight??? This is wrong information. I do not think Chisora was there either when they fought. Show me please.
Nah man you can't lie Fury destroyed Wilder, that alone massively boosts his resume. It was impressive. But will he do the same thing with Aj ? I dont know
People who now dismiss Wilder have short memories and were no doubt the same people labelling him as this all conquering monster that was going to dismantle Fury. The way he is viewed now is because of what Tyson Fury did to him whilst still continuing to live rent free in his head. People should give credit where it's due. Fury was robbed in the 1st fight (which he went into 6 months after coming off the whiskey and marching powder) then again went back to Wilder's back yard, walked him down and flattened him.
If you dont think a fighter of Furys immense size being able to fight at his pace/energy, style, and with his stamina, then I dont know what to tell you. Id think most people that know boxing would know that having the energy he had in the 12th round in the first fight or the pace he had in the rematch, without ever looking on the verge of slowing down in either, is indeed special.
Wilder has always been the most disrespected and shrugged off champion amongst boxing fans. He was a borderline joke in the boxing world. That he was favored against Fury said more about Fury at the time, than Wilder.
