Unraveling Dr. Wladimir Klitschko, Tyson Fury, and the Heavyweight Division
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
After postponing his rematch with Dr. Wladimir Klitschko for undetermined health reasons, Tyson Fury’s World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organization world heavyweight titles are in danger of being stripped, and Tyson Fury is at risk of being designating a world heavyweight champion in recess. Klitschko wants the rematch.
Why is Tyson Fury not training? Why the wait? What happened? What will happen?
Tyson now appears out of shape, and presently disinterested in defending his championship. That could change in the near future. Precisely what the medical health issues are which have delayed Tyson from fighting Klitschko again remain a mystery. Fury may or may not be stripped, depending on his lastest medical report states.
If Tyson Fury gets stripped of his belts by the WBA and WBO, Wladimir Klitschko would have the option of: fighting the winner of IBF champion Anthony Joshua versus Joseph Parker; WBA regular champion Lucas Browne; WBC champion Deontay Wilder; interim WBA champion Luis ‘King Kong’ Ortiz; the winner of Erkan Teper versus Christian Hammer for the vacant WBO European title; a rematch with David Haye; a match with Andy Ruiz Jr., Gerald Washington , Trevor Bryan, Shannon Briggs, Dillian White, Jarrell Miller, Jun Long Zhang, Johann Duhaupas, Robert Helenius, Hughie Fury, Trey Lippe, Adrian Granat, Oscar Rivas, or any of the other heavyweight hopeful wannabes out there who want a shot at the title.
Tyson Fury’s first postponement stemmed from an ankle injury. According to his uncle Peter Fury, more recent allegations in question involved a provisional suspension against Tyson (since lifted) from action by United Kingdom Anti-Doping for allegedly producing a urine sample that contained Nandrolone, which is a semisynthetic anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) derived from testosterone. Peter Fury says a combination of that situation and the negative attention Tyson has received have conspired to damage his health. However, Peter Fury does not feel Tyson’s current issues are long term. Rather, some temporary issues need to be addressed.
Recent troubles with the law involving such world champions as Adrien Broner and Jermaine Taylor have raised the issue of how the mental and emotional state of a fighter crosschecks with reality. Tyson Fury has raised a number of question marks. By the end of the week, the answers will be clearer. A split decision on the belts would strip Tyson of one belt while keeping the other. There is no telling yet what the WBA and the WBO will do.
The biggest question involving Tyson Fury has to do with inactivity. On November 28, 2016, Tyson Fury will have been out of the ring for a year. Muhammad Ali was out of the ring for 15 months when he defended his heavyweight title by first round knockout over Sonny Liston at the Central Maine Civic Center in Lewiston, Maine in May 1965. How sharp can the skills of the best pound for pound heavyweight in the world be if he is not in the gym, if he is not focused on fighting anyone?
To be or not to be the heavyweight champion of the world, that is the question for Tyson Fury. By Friday, the boxing world will have some of the answers it seeks regarding the Tyson Fury controversy. The WBA and WBA boxing authorities will make their decisions. The boxing world expects to see Tyson fury fighting again. The only issue is when it will be.
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