The October 24 fight between WBA Super heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (64-3, 53 KOs) and WBA #2 ranked Tyson Fury (24-0, 18 KOs) is months away—and the fireworks have already started.
The first of many press conferences took place in Düsseldorf, Germany, today and the fighters were as different as night and day.
Klitschko was his usual dignified self, but his mild exterior vanished when he spoke after the challenger.
In his opening statement Fury was restrained, even charming. It was only after Klitschko mocked his skills that Fury let ‘er rip.
“Ich bin Tyson Fury,” the challenger said in passable German, “the sexy meister from the United Kingdom. It’s a pleasure to be here in Düsseldorf. This fight has been a long, long time coming, but now the time has arrived. Wladimir is a great champion. He’s been champion for a long time now. He’s been undefeated for 11 years I believe. He’s taken on all comers from America, the UK, and the rest of the world. But I believe he has never faced a challenge like me before, and I don’t believe he’ll ever face a challenge like me again. I’m a unique fighter, one of a kind. There’s never been someone like me before in history. A fighter like me only comes along every 1000 years. I’ve been ranked in the top 10 since 2010, and it’s only now that I’ve been given the opportunity to fight for the title. I think I’m a very dangerous opponent for anybody to take and I have to give credit to the older champion for taking on a challenger like myself.”
Klitschko spoke next.
“I have to tell you that I have difficulty finding the right words to express my regret about the fact that I’m so old and Tyson Fury has to fight an old man,” he said. “I’ve seen many bouts, many fights, many press conferences, listened to different statements. But there’s always something new. Some fighters are taller, some are less tall. Some are heavier, some are less heavy. Some are softballs and some others are not. But after all these years, after all the different guys that I fought in the past, it was always challenging to fight the right key for the person. I really believe Tyson Fury really means what he’s talking about. He’s definitely not coming here to be on the canvas. No, he came here to win a championship fight.
“To be honest, I haven’t seen any of the fights of Tyson Fury; a couple of episodes, a couple of seconds. First time, I heard this running joke. ‘Did you see this guy? He was punching himself in the face!’ ‘Impossible,’ I said. ‘How can you fight and punch yourself in the face?’ Somebody showed me the video and I thought it was really entertaining. I said later on, this guy is so entertaining, he sings, he dances, he’s a cool dude. He does different things that people like, or hate. Some people adore him. Some people can’t stand him.”
Fury is entertaining, but so is a dog and pony show. What separates Fury from most dogs and ponies is that he can fight.
“I’ve done my homework, my research,” continued Klitschko. “Manny Steward said Tyson Fury’s going to be world champion one day. The same thing Manny said about Alexander Povetkin. And I believe Manny really meant it. ‘I respect the talent he has,’ he said. I’ll be honest with you. Anybody can become champion. Anybody can become a champion quick, for one fight. It’s really tough to be a champion for a long, long time. It’s challenging. You have to be on time, on point, and perform. It’s systematic, preparation, plan, and experience.
“What you saw from Tyson Fury now is not everything that Tyson Fury can show us. It’s like in portions. It’s going to build up. It’s going to be more entertaining, because I was a little disappointed. I said, ‘This is it? He didn’t throw the table? He didn’t eat his shoe?’ But it’s going to come up. Fists speak louder than any mouth. He’s going to be in the toughest fight of his life.”
A routine Q&A followed. The questions were, to put it mildly, uninspired. In an attempt to liven up the proceedings, Klitschko asked Fury, “How does it make you feel to be fighting for a championship? Is it challenging? Is it exciting?”
Klitschko might have been poking an animal with a stick.
“To be honest, Wlad, it’s a world title fight. It is what it is. It’s an event, yes, for the fans. But this is personal between me and you.”
Klitschko said, “It’s a business.”
“It’s a business,” countered Fury, “but it’s very personal for me. It’s a personal mission for me to rid boxing of a boring person like you. Personal business between me and thee, understand? I’m interested in all the titles, all them belts you’ve got on there. But I’m also interested in breaking you face in. That’s what I’m interested in. You and your jab and grab style are boring. All of Europe wants to see you get beaten, and all of Europe and the rest of the world will see you get beaten. You have about as much charisma as my underpants. You speak 37 different languages. So what? You’re a robotic person. You’re not fun and exciting to watch. History doesn’t lie. History says all old champions move over for the new ones. I am the new one.
“Is this man an ultimate specimen of a man? Is he a machine? A robot? No, he’s blood, guts, and bone. Is he better than all the great champions from the past? I think not. Are you better than Larry Holmes, Muhammad Ali, and Joe Frazier? All the great champions from the past were over the hill at your age, especially when you have a young, fit, healthy lion chasing you around the ring. You’re fighting guys six-one, six-two, six-three. You like messing with small guys. You like messing with a guy who’s afraid of you. I’m not afraid. I see a man, an old man. You’ve got a chin like a piece of glass. What have I got to be afraid of? You’ve has 25 title defenses against bums. You are nothing, you’re in trouble, and you’re getting knocked out.”
“I told you he’s entertaining,” Klitschko said.
This article was penned by the author who is not related to the WBA and the statements, expressions or opinions referenced herein are that of the author alone and not the WBA.
