As a boxing decision was Fury right to take Haye rather than Pulev?

Pulev is probably easier to beat than Haye, I'd say.

 

Pulev is the easier fight but i also agree with the last point and fury was right to take the haye fight/£5m. Fury will likely not earn that money in the rest of his carrer nevermind in one fight

 

It is simple. They are both risky fights. I think his chances are actually similar in both fights(I'd say about 50%). I don't think you can ignore the money, but even if you do the decision seems good, when it comes to the opportunities both fights open and what doors close afterwards in cases of awin and a loss respectively.

A win vs Haye: 5mln, world class super star status, huge purses afterwards for any fight he takes, preparation for monster fights for a title down the line(even if he doesn't get it right away with a mandatory spot). Recognition from both hard core fans and wider public.
A loss to Haye: 5mln, small step back versus a fighter that's widely considered one of the best in the world nowadays. Exposure to wider public. He's still young, still a lot of time and opportunities to build up his career to a title shot.

A win vs Pulev: virtually no money for fighting a dangerous opponent, and little to no credit for the win with the wider public, maybe some credit with hard core boxing fans(the ones that wouldn't simply dismiss Pulev as a hype-job for losing that fight). A mandatory spot vs Wlad.
A loss vs Pulev: virtually no money, losing momentum, being labeled hype-job, "exposed", etc for losing from a dangerous fighter who is not popular. Loss of interest by media and fans(who wants to see Price fight nowadays?)... much more struggles to rebuild his career.

With all that said, there is something important that might be worth addressing - he might not have ducked Pulev, but it is possible he didn't want the fight vs Wlad just yet. Maybe him and his team are not very confident that he can take on the champ just yet. Maybe this is just a way to put that fight away for some time in the future. I don't think that's unwise and why not win some money in the process?

In short:
Pulev - high risk, low reward, potential fight he doesn't yet want
Haye - low risk(in the long run), high reward, opportunity to direct his career in a way he wants in the future
=>>good decision.

If we talk purely boxing-wise, and taking nothing else into account - only boxing styles and chances in the fights, then I believe his chances are about the same in both fights.

I don't think he'd be able to do with Pulev what he did with Cunningham, Pulev has too good of a jab and 1-2 combos to allow Fury to smother him like he did with Cunningham, and also Pulev has too good of stamina and chin for Fury to even rely on him gassing after some rounds of wrestling. If he wants to beat Pulev he would have to actually box him and it would all depend on his footwork and how good he'd be able to cut off the ring and if he'd be able to make it an inside fight. If he succeeds he has very good chances of winning. If Pulev succeeds in establishing the jab and keeping the distance where his wants it, I don't see Fury being able to do much about it.

I give Fury much better chances than most people do in the fight vs Haye. I think he has a real chance there and if his chin holds up, I believe it is very possible to exhaust Haye in the later rounds and take a decision or even knock him out late.

 

I don't see why a Pulev fight would be more intriguing then a Haye fight. This one is about hometurf dominance.

 

Furys uncle/trainer said in an interview I heard that Pulev would be a tough fight,as,obviously is Haye.But what with the money and the fact that the fight will be a big PPV in Britain its a no brainer.Boxing wise,for what my opinion is worth,I see Haye as possibly an easier fight,especially at home.I believe Pulev would have a better chance of taking Furys punch.Much has been made of Davids punch compared to Furys.Fury is a big,young,strong lad,with a fair whack himself.People seem to be forgetting that

 

Can't really argue any of the posts.

Almost impossible to ignore the money.....the risk/reward factor here is insane.

By taking the Haye fight, he's making more dough vs a guy who for his fighting style/body type, is easier to beat.

There is no way that Fury would be able to impose his size on Pulev. Kubrat has excellent footwork and a strong stiff jab. Fury would be eating that jab and missing every lead punch he throws vs Pulev. He would literally have to lure Pulev into fighting off the front foot to win that fight. IDK if Fury has the patience to fight a complete stinker and somehow make himself look like a wounded fighter.

Whereas, Haye.....Fury can cut the ring off vs Haye, throw the jab up and down and mix his power up. Haye's footwork is fine for running, but not for fighting defensively.

If Fury loses to either guy at this stage....so what.....he might be TKOd vs Haye, but he's made the $$$$ that 10 pulev fights would make him. If he lost to Pulev, it would likely be by decision and it would be a stinker.:think

 

Its the right choice i reckon. Chisora rightly or wrongly, gets props for taking on Haye and Vitali even though he lost. Also his profile has been raised.

Furys profile has been raised by taking the Haye fight over Pulev and if he gets beat can easy comeback at his age.

A defeat to Pulev would be more damaging to Furys profile/rep more than a defeat by Haye at this point

 

Some reasons the Haye fight is probably more winnable for Fury. ..

1. Fury's more familiar with Haye than he is with Pulev.
2. Pulev is probably still an improving fighter, Haye is probably not.
3. Haye's a smaller fighter than Pulev. Fury's main strength is his height and reach.
4. Haye's shown that his work rate against tall fighters is minimal.
5. Haye's been beaten twice before.

Obviously, the money and the public recognition is the main motivation.

... and of course, none of the above means that Fury will beat Haye.

 

Wot he said!:good

 

Of course the Haye fight is the way to go. It's massive in the UK, and it brings a huge amount of money to the table.

I think Fury would probably lose both fights, with the Pulev fight a bit closer in the odds I guess, so take the one with the big money behind it and the much bigger reward if he somehow wins.
Boxing wise it would be smarter to go for the better winchance in Pulev.

 

he did it purely for financial reasons, but I think, taking in Haye's history vs bigger guys, that both are about the same % winnable for Fury, I'd take Pulev and Haye to beat Fury though

 

LOL at saying this slapper has a whack

 

taking Haye was the right choice. Haye is a much bigger name in boxing, more proven, and just plain better than Pulev.

if he wins, that would be huge. but if he loses, most people expected him too anyway. but it would still raise his profile due to how big the fight is. plus, he's still young and learning. so a loss is not going to be the end of the world.

Fury would beat Pulev IMO. he's a solid fighter, but nothing to shout about.

it could still well happen down the road. after Pulev has lost to Wlad, his profile will have been raised also, so he may end up getting some higher profile fighters off the back of it.