TYSON FURY will get wrapped up and tapped out if he dares to jump into the cage with a real mixed martial artist in the UFC, Evander Holyfield has warned.
Holyfield reckons the Gypsy King’s latest big-money potential career change will end in a painful submission, if he picks the wrong rival.
Tyson Fury trained with UFC star Darren Till after suggesting that he could make the switch to MMA
Boxing legend Evander Holyfield fears the Gypsy King could be taught a lesson if he picks the wrong opponentCredit: Alamy Live News
The former cruiser and heavyweight king fears the 6ft 9in Brit’s gangly limbs will be used against him by a wrestling or jiu-jitsu ace inside the octagon.
The 57-year-old told SunSport: “I hope he doesn’t get tore up, when he’s down in the cage, if he does go ahead with this idea of his.
“In a fight, if he’s going to try to hit his opponent, he’s going to have to hit him in the head and once the UFC fighter gets under him he is going to tie Fury up like a knot, with his body.
“Fury won’t have the advantage anymore with that long body of his. These UFC guys will wrap him up and he’ll be tapping out quickly because they’re going to break something of his.
“He could try to stay away, but as soon as the fighter gets close, those guys can grab your arm and flip you over and throw you. And if you’re not accustomed to landing properly you’re going to get hurt quickly.”
Fury won’t have the advantage anymore with that long body of his. These UFC guys will wrap him up and he’ll be tapping out quickly
Evander Holyfield
Fury has done a training session with Liverpool’s UFC striking star Darren Till and teased a future partnership with southpaw 0-1 boxer Conor McGregor.
And there have been back-and-forth barbs between the boxer and reigning UFC heavyweight king Stipe Miocic.
And Holyfield says his best chance of making a successful transition is picking an MMA opponent, like ex-amateur boxer Miocic, who will go toe-to-toe with him and not take the fight to the floor.
Holyfield said: “Fury will punch the daylights out of some of the UFC guys that have called out to box him, such as the heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic, so he has to be smart.
“If you disrespect someone’s game and get in the cage, they’re going to beat the daylights out of you.
“He should understand this and that he’s a boxer. In boxing he’s tall and, whether a tall or shorter MMA fighter comes in, Fury is going to beat him in boxing because he’s got so much experience in boxing.
“In the UFC Fury may get kicked and not merely punched so he cannot seriously make that transition in a short time.
“He would be putting himself in a very vulnerable position no matter how good a boxer he is. He should stick to boxing, if it was me I would.
“He hasn’t got that many years in him left anyway so he should continue boxing for the four or five years, make a lot of money and be done with it.”
Holyfield is a big fan of Fury’s boxing skills but he feels Deontay Wilder only needs to catch him again in their scheduled February 22 rematch.
The Bronze Bomber twice dropped the undefeated 31-year-old in their December draw and Holyfield believes it could be third-time lucky.
He said: “Wilder is faster in reflex, he has the best reflexes. Wilder knows that if he catches Fury with one or two good ones he’ll get him.
“Fury is going to be aware that if Wilder gets him with a hard combination he’s going to get him out of there.
“Fury’s got a lot of heart too. Both are freaks of nature. They are both confident at what they do in the boxing ring. They never complain and they give their all.”
Tyson Fury seen in octagon for first time as he dons UFC gloves and trains with Darren Till for ‘MMA switch’
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
