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BOXING: Klitschko against Fury a flashback to the Heavyweight heydays

Heavyweight boxing isn’t what it used to be, but Wladimir Klitschko’s upcoming title defense against Tyson Fury in Dusseldorf is promising to give fans a flashback to those good old days.

Ukraine's Wladimir Klitschko (L) and Britain's Tyson Fury pose during a press conference on November 24, 2015 in Duesseldorf, western Germany, ahead of their boxing fight for the WBA, WBO and IBF titles.
Ukraine's Wladimir Klitschko (L) and Britain's Tyson Fury pose during a press conference on November 24, 2015 in Duesseldorf, western Germany, ahead of their boxing fight for the WBA, WBO and IBF titles.


Many would scoff at that opening paragraph. They would immediately compare Wlad and Fury to the Muhammad Alis, to the Mike Tysons, to the Joe Fraziers and to the George Foremans to prove their point. They’d also cite a downturn in business for this particular weight division compared to the past.

However, while those comparisons would be valid, and yesterday’s legends vs today’s top ranked would likely be a mis-match, ‘past vs present’ isn’t what will be staged on Saturday night. To judge this fight, we must look only at the gentlemen contesting it.

As we did back in the day with ‘The Rumble in the Jungle’, ‘The Thrilla in Manilla’ and other epic maximum-weight tussles, the allure of Klitschko vs Fury comes from within the two combatants, and everything their pairing means.

Klitschko, after a decade of dominance, is by now used to having challengers attempt to contrast his calm, diplomatic demeanour with wild gestures and colourful threats. He is used to his opponents claiming in the run-up to their title fight that, after all the failed attempts, THEY would be the one to finally loosen his stronghold on the division.

And while Fury has certainly hammed that aspect up over recent months - particularly by dressing up as Batman during a press conference and, right in front of the champion, decking a friend dressed as the Joker in a pre-planned stunt - there isn’t much of this persona the Morecambe-based giant needs to artificially put on.

One minute addressing a fight he has analysed as a television pundit with intelligence, insight and eloquence; the next launching a wild tirade on social media against a fellow boxer he isn’t even set to fight any time soon, Fury has been the archetypal Klitschko opponent long before such a pairing was ever on the cards.

If you require concrete evidence of the natural conflict between two characters such as Wlad and Tyson, track down the ‘Gloves Are Off’ face-to-face documentary starring both men on Sky Sports.

More than your run-of-the-mill segment featuring two fighters telling each other they would annihilate the other, this broadcast likely saved a pair of psychologists hours of work as the two not only discussed their showdown but every interaction they’ve had in this business and why emerging victorious means so much to them.

While the entire 30-minute show is worth tracking down before Saturday, nothing stood out more than the exchange between the two over a time years prior when they shared a sauna.

“I’d been invited to a training camp with the Klitschkos,” explained the undefeated Fury. “After the workout one day, we all went into the sauna. There were about 10 guys, including Wladimir and myself.

Fury Edges Klitschko In Pre-Fight Weigh-In
Fury Edges Klitschko In Pre-Fight Weigh-In

“One by one, guys started to leave - until it was just me and him.”

At this stage, Fury paused and smirked at his foe. Johnny Nelson, host of the face-to-face, had to ask: “Who got out first, you or him?”

Tyson remained silent, again smirking towards Wladimir. The champion, throughout all of this, held a distinctly-uncomfortable facial expression as he repeatedly claimed to hardly remember the day in question.

Finally, Fury answered for him.

“He got out first,” said the challenger. “I thought: mental victory. I was prepared to die in that sauna.”

When again asked if he remembered this, Wlad uttered: “I remember the sauna. I don’t recall [competing with Fury to be the last to leave]. I don’t know what you’re talking about. It was a battle in your mind. A victory in your mind.”

Klitschko wasn’t wrong about that, but the entire exchange seemed to confirm his worst fears: he isn’t defending the titles against a man merely claiming to be his antithesis - he really has found his arch-nemesis; a man completely committed to his cause and to his belief that he has the cure for ‘Dr. Steelhammer’.

While there is a strong chance it could be business as usual between the ropes for the dominant titlist come Saturday at the ESPRIT Arena, there’s no denying that he’s well aware of the threat an opponent of Fury’s size, confidence and borderline-unhinged commitment to the cause poses.

And that - an intriguing pairing of two complete opposites which is promising to end before the distance - is what we fight fans get excited for.

Klitschko and Fury may be no Ali or Sonny Liston - despite the Brit’s constant self-comparisons to ‘The Louisville Lip’ - but this duel in Germany is offering a ton of similarities to the captivating Ali-Liston collisions of yore.