Tyson Fury Changes Story on Wilder’s Power
With just one week to go, the boxing world is buzzing in anticipation of the rematch between WBC world heavyweight champion Deontay “Bronze Bomber” Wilder (42-0-1, 41 KO’s) and former unified heavyweight champion Tyson “The Gypsy King” Fury (29-0-1, 20 KO’s). In the estimation of most, this is the clinical definition of ‘the boxer versus the puncher.’
In the first bout, Fury found himself having to rise from the canvas twice in order for the fight to the end in a controversial draw. After the premiere bout, the Gypsy King confirmed that Wilder was indeed one of the hardest punchers, if not the hardest hitting heavyweight, of all time.
MORE HYPE THAN HURT
In the post-fight conference, Fury famously said that fellow UK boxer Anthony “AJ” Joshua didn’t want to face the Bronze Bomber simply to avoid that thunderous power. Now however, Fury is reneging on those initial comments.
Not only is the Gypsy King not crediting Wilder with being quite so devastating a puncher, he now has said that his onetime foe Wladimir “Dr. Steelhammer” Klitschko is a harder puncher than is Deontay Wilder.
“You know I felt the power, it ain’t so bad, ain’t so bad! He can’t be the biggest puncher in history because he couldn’t knock the Gypsy King out could he? I took his best shot flush on the chin and got back up. He punches hard but I’ve never been hit by someone the likes of Ernie Shavers, I didn’t get hit by George Foreman, I didn’t get hit by Rocky Marciano or any of those top guys. I didn’t get hit by them so I can’t comment.
So if he is the biggest puncher in history, I’m not really sure because I didn’t get hit by all the guys in history, but I don’t think he punches harder than Wladimir Klitschko. Wladimir has a massive knockout punch…make no mistake, all heavyweights punch hard and we all can knockout anyone out.
Wilder, I don’t think it’s so much his power, it’s his speedy runs which can be tricky when you don’t see it coming. But then again, even a guy who’s got no knockout ratio, if he hits you and you don’t see it coming and then he’s going to put you down.”
THE PROOF IS IN THE CONCUSSION
Naturally, there is going to be an army of folks who say these recent comments were made to get sensational reactions more so than to express the reality of the situation. Especially since Tyson Fury himself already validated Wilders power directly after their first dust-up.
At that time, he was not mentioning Dr. Steelhammer at all. So maybe he was trying to save face then, or, perhaps he is trying to save face now. Yet, no matter how you slice it, the recent comments now contradict statements from the past. Although, at the end of the day, it’s all opinion and improvable speculation anyhow. What’s most important at this point in the game is how the fight on February 22 plays out. Seeing as how both men are promising a knockout, let’s see who, if anyone, can lay their opponent out flat for the full ten-second count out!
By: Bakari Simpson
