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Re-Visiting The Fury – Klitschko Fight: A TSS Classic

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DUSSELDORF, A FURY WONDERLAND – Is it too far a stretch to envision Tyson Fury as the boxer to assume Money Mayweather’s mantle? Not as far today as many people, including myself, thought it was, going into ESPIRIT Arena on a rainy Saturday evening.

It will take many moons to assess Fury’s subsequent historical status, but for now we must say he is a man of his word. Some big heavyweight title upset winners like Clay / Ali (vs Liston) or Foreman (vs Moorer) went on to far greater things. Some, like Douglas (vs Tyson) or McCall (vs Holmes) not so much.

It appears we can count on Fury to keep things interesting and straightforward. He has recently been praising conservative Christianity more than he has been praising himself, so sparks seem guaranteed to fly.

If contact with his longtime promoter Mick Hennessey indicates anything, the team has strong ethics to go with Fury’s outrageous controversial side.

While the fight was definitely not a classic, or even a very stirring battle, I disagree with those who proclaimed it a putrid display of the sport. Whatever Fury does next, his detractors don’t seem to understand what he was doing, by design, against Wladimir Klitschko.

It was a classic scene and performance in significance alone. Fury achieved something classic in sport in becoming an unlikely underdog victor against a longtime, respected champion.

I saw this one coming about as much as Klitschko seemed to see Fury’s jab, chin or body. While I was way off on what I predicted would happen, I did recognize it when it arrived. Fury had made the same shifting feints during training, I just figured Klitschko would eventually back him up and go to work.

Instead, Fury implemented a plan he steadfastly hinted at. It seemed pretty clear by the third round Fury was doing exactly what he’d promised, capturing Klitschko’s multiple heavyweight titles plus some of his prestige, with what appeared to be exactly as easy a victory as predicted. I saw it 118 – 111, and to sourpusses who squawk that Klitschko looked terrible I say Fury made him look that way and deserves credit.

The stormy Rhineland was sparkling from Christmas markets and the glowing faces of UK revelers. “Walking in a Fury Wonderland” got bellowed past dawn by dozens of drunken British visitors in the old town area. It is still going on somewhere.

The blokes did heed Michael Buffer’s call to remain quiet during the national anthems. I didn’t see that coming either. Besides, Fury earned a few serenades, and even sampled a heartfelt tune to his wife after choking up in a tribute to his team.

Fury looked like he was in a hyper-state of concentration heading into the ring. He charged out, not really throwing punches as much as establishing space and movement. Fury confused Klitschko with feints and short punch series that made just enough openings for Fury to take close, uneventful rounds. He built a lead and never looked back.

The second half of the bout got ugly, with frequent mutual clutches. The amount of times somebody ended up clinching from behind showed how sloppy things became, but it was still a long time since a Klitschko fight progressed with the outcome in doubt, so tension rose and there was a subtle excitement in the stands.

By the midway point, Klitschko needed to do something dramatic but it was Fury who just kept throwing. Whether Fury landed hard or clean didn’t matter. At least he was landing something and Klitschko’s corner looked worried as he was getting busted up.

Klitschko was aggressive much of the time, but he was never effective and after the ninth frame he looked uncertain. Fury looked extremely confident and kept Klitschko from finding any rhythm. When Klitschko did land a rare, decent punch, Fury shrugged it off.

When Fury lost a point in the eleventh for mauling and hitting behind the head, there was a tinge of mass anticipation, but overall ref Tony Weeks did a good job of controlling some messy collisions and was not an interfering factor. “I didn’t think I’d get the decision after that,” Fury said afterward.

Fury hurt Klitschko with lefts and had a cut Klitschko in big trouble on unsteady legs as the fight concluded. The crowd was screaming, and most of them were screaming for Fury as Klitschko hung on. The only thing sad about Fury’s victory was that it probably detracts from Klitschko’s legacy.

Klitschko reminded people that he has four fights left on his TV contract, including a rematch. “We do not know where or when but there will definitely be a rematch, it is in the contract,” said a bruised Klitschko, who still looked stunned at the post-fight conference. Expect Manchester to exert some leverage.

“I’ve just taken out Klitschko, who was number one for so long, Deontay Wilder will have to wait,” mused Fury with a wide grin. “I don’t mind fighting in Germany again, the people showed me a lot of love. Klitschko has a round two, ding, ding, ding.”

Promotional generalities indicated a rematch could occur around April or May.

That doesn’t guarantee Klitschko will continue the campaign. It looked like wife Hayden Panettiere wouldn’t mind his retirement as she gracefully answered a post-fight, big screen question on live German TV about whether or not she and Klitschko having a child had ruined his career.

Meanwhile, new champion Fury has some very big boxing shoes to fill and he sounded sincere acknowledging that. If he does get past Klitschko again or that fight doesn’t happen, think how big a UK fight against Anthony Joshua could become.

“I want to be the most colorful champion since Muhammad Ali. I want to be great, so I will take on all challengers. If I can be half the champion Wladimir was, I’ll be happy.”

Admirable goals, and if Fury is a long shot for them, well…

For now, critics of Fury, Klitschko, and the heavyweights continue to hiss. Somewhere, Klitschko touches his face and feels older, around the time Fury is posing for a photograph.

British fans who made the trip to Germany ride the last buzz of euphoria, unless that is, they made a big bet on the underdog like Fury who bet 300,000 bucks on himself.

The rain continues to fall, the fire continues to burn.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story originally appeared on Nov. 30, 2015 under the title “Fury’s Future after Klitschko: Praise Thee Who Praise Themselves”

Check out more boxing news on video at The Boxing Channel 

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Najee Lopez Steps up in Class and Wins Impressively at Plant City

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Garry Jonas’ ProBox series returned to its regular home in Plant City, Florida, tonight with a card topped by a 10-round light heavyweight match between fast-rising Najee Lopez and former world title challenger Lenin Castillo. This was considered a step-up fight for the 25-year-old Lopez, an Atlanta-born-fighter of Puerto Rican heritage. Although the 36-year-old Castillo had lost two of his least three heading in, he had gone the distance with Dimitry Bivol and Marcus Browne and been stopped only once (by Callum Smith).

Lopez landed the cleaner punches throughout. Although Castillo seemed unfazed during the first half of the fight, he returned to his corner at the end of round five exhibiting signs of a fractured jaw.

In the next round, Lopez cornered him against the ropes and knocked him through the ropes with a left-right combination. Referee Emil Lombardo could have stopped the fight right there, but he allowed the courageous Castillo to carry on for a bit longer, finally stopping the fight as Castillo’s corner and a Florida commissioner were signaling that it was over.

The official time was 2:36 of round six. Bigger fights await the talented Lopez who improved to 13-0 with his tenth win inside the distance. Castillo declined to 25-7-1.

Co-Feature

In a stinker of a heavyweight fight, Stanley Wright, a paunchy, 34-year-old North Carolina journeyman, scored a big upset with a 10-round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Jeremiah Milton.

Wright carried 280 pounds, 100 pounds more than in his pro debut 11 years ago. Although he was undefeated (13-0, 11 KOs), he had never defeated an opponent with a winning record and his last four opponents were a miserable 19-48-2. Moreover, he took the fight on short notice.

What Wright had going for him was fast hands and, in the opening round, he put Milton on the canvas with a straight right hand. From that point, Milton fought tentatively and Wright, looking fatigued as early as the fourth round, fought only in spurts. It seemed doubtful that he could last the distance, but Milton, the subject of a 2021 profile in these pages, was wary of Wright’s power and unable to capitalize. “It’s almost as if Milton is afraid to win,” said ringside commentator Chris Algieri during the ninth stanza when the bout had devolved into a hugfest.

The judges had it 96-93 and 97-92 twice for the victorious Wright who boosted his record to 14-0 without improving his stature.

Also

In the TV opener, a 10-round contest in the junior middleweight division, Najee Lopez stablemate Darrelle Valsaint (12-0, 10 KOs) scored his career-best win with a second-round knockout of 35-year-old Dutch globetrotter Stephen Danyo (23-7-3).

A native Floridian of Haitian descent, the 22-year-old Valsaint was making his eighth start in Plant City. He rocked Danyo with a chopping right hand high on the temple and then, as Danyo slumped forward, delivered the coup-de-gras, a short left uppercut. The official time was 2:17 of round two.

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Japanese Superstar Naoya Inoue is Headed to Vegas after KOing Ye Joon Kim

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Japan’s magnificent Naoya Inoue, appearing in his twenty-fourth title fight, scored his 11th straight stoppage tonight while successfully defending his unified super bantamweight title, advancing his record to 29-0 (26 KOs) at the expense of Ye Joon Kim. The match at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena came to an end at the 2:25 mark of round four when U.S. referee Mark Nelson tolled “10” over the brave but overmatched Korean.

Kim, raised in a Seoul orphanage, had a few good moments, but the “Monster” found his rhythm in the third round, leaving Kim with a purplish welt under his left eye. In the next frame, he brought the match to a conclusion, staggering the Korean with a left and then finishing matters with an overhand right that put Kim on the seat of his pants, dazed and wincing in pain.

Kim, who brought a 21-2-2 record, took the fight on 10 days’ notice, replacing Australia’s Sam Goodman who suffered an eye injury in sparring that never healed properly, forcing him to withdraw twice.

Co-promoter Bob Arum, who was in the building, announced that Inoue’s next fight would happen in Las Vegas in the Spring. Speculation centers on Mexico City’s Alan Picasso (31-0-1, 17 KOs) who is ranked #1 by the WBC. However, there’s also speculation that the 31-year-old Inoue may move up to featherweight and seek to win a title in a fifth weight class, in which case a potential opponent is the winner of the Feb. 2 match between Brandon Figueroa and Stephen Fulton. In “olden days,” this notion would have been dismissed as the Japanese superstar and Figueroa/Fulton have different promoters, but the arrival of Turki Alalshikh, the sport’s Daddy Warbucks, has changed the dynamic. Tonight, Naoya Inoue made his first start as a brand ambassador for Riyadh Season.

Simmering on the backburner is a megafight with countryman Junto Nakatani, an easy fight to make as Arum has ties to both. However, the powers-that-be would prefer more “marination.”

Inoue has appeared twice in Las Vegas, scoring a seventh-round stoppage of Jason Moloney in October of 2020 at the MGM Bubble and a third-round stoppage of Michael Dasmarinas at the Virgin Hotels in June of 2021.

Semi-wind-up

In a 12-round bout for a regional welterweight title, Jin Sasaki improved to 19-1-1 (17) with a unanimous decision over Shoki Sakai (29-15-3). The scores were 118-110, 117-111, and 116-112.

Also

In a bout in which both contestants were on the canvas, Toshiki Shimomachi (20-1-3) edged out Misaki Hirano (11-2), winning a majority decision. A 28-year-old Osaka southpaw with a fan-friendly style, the lanky Shimomachi, unbeaten in his last 22 starts, competes as a super bantamweight. A match with Inoue may be in his future.

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Eric Priest Wins Handily on Thursday’s Golden Boy card at the Commerce Casino

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Model turned fighter Eric Priest jabbed and jolted his way into the super middleweight rankings with a shutout decision win over veteran Tyler Howard on Thursday.

In his first main event Priest (15-0, 8 KOs) proved ready for contender status by defusing every attack Tennessee’s Howard (20-3, 11 KOs) could muster at Commerce Casino, the second fight in six days at the LA County venue.

All ticket monies collected on the Folden Boy Promotions card were contributed to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation as they battle wildfires sprouting all over Los Angeles County due to high winds.

Priest, 26, had never fought anyone near Howard’s caliber but used a ramrod jab to keep the veteran off-balance and unable to muster a forceful counter-attack. Round after round the Korean-American fighter pumped left jabs while circling his opposition.

Though hit with power shots, none seemed to faze Howard but his own blows were unable to put a dent in Priest. After 10 rounds of the same repetitive action all three judges scored the fight 100-90 for Priest who now wins a regional super middleweight title.

Priest also joins the top 15 rankings of the WBA organization.

In a fight between evenly matched middleweights, Jordan Panthen (11-0, 9 KOs) remained undefeated after 10 rounds versus DeAundre Pettus (12-4, 7 KOs). Though equally skilled, Panthen simply out-worked the South Caroliina fighter to win by unanimous decision. No knockdowns were scored.

Other Bouts

Grant Flores (8-0, 6 KOs) knocked out Costa Rica’s David Lobo Ramirez (17-4, 12 KOs) with two successive right uppercuts at 2:59 of the second round of the super welterweight fight.

Cayden Griffith (3-0, 3 KOs) used a left hook to the body to stop Mark Misiura at 1:43 of the second round in a super welterweight bout.

Jordan Fuentes (3-0) floored Brandon Badillo (0-3-1) in the third round and proceeded to win by decision after four rounds in a super bantamweight fight.

A super featherweight match saw Leonardo Sanchez (8-0) win by decision over Joseph Cruz Brown (10-12) after six rounds.

Photo credit: Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy

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