WLADIMIR KLITCHSKO reckons Tyson Fury’s dream of KO’ing Deontay Wilder rests on his mental preparation.
Ukrainian Wlad lost his ten-year unbeaten record when Fury ripped away his world titles in 2015 — before the Gypsy King was forced to give up the belts after failing a drugs test.
Tyson Fury needs to be in the right mental condition to beat big-hitting Deontay Wilder, says Wladimir KlitschkoCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Wladimir Klitschko is more qualified than most to voice his views on the mega rematch, having fought Tyson Fury and sparred with Deontay WilderCredit: EPA
Klitschko believes Fury has the ammunition and fighting instincts to beat Wilder, 34, in Saturday night’s blockbuster Las Vegas rematch.
But he feels the 6ft 9in 31-year-old Brit may not be in the right mental state to pull it off — and that could land Fury on his backside.
Klitschko said: “I fought Fury and I sparred with Wilder.
“Knowing those guys, both as people and in the ring, I believe either Fury will win on points — or he will be knocked out.
“It all depends on the mental shape Fury is in. It’s not about the physical shape.
“If you remember, I was training for a rematch with him that never happened because he got into cocaine and some other issues.
“It seems to me he is unstable with his discipline.
“It is like a gamble. You throw the dice and never know what is going to come up.
“We don’t know what kind of mental shape Fury is going to be in.
“I want him to win — but I’m not sure he is right.”
Klitschko, speaking at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Berlin, added: “As a boxer, I would say Fury is really awkward, because of his size and the way he moves.
“He is very mobile for a big man, very mobile.
“Wilder is pretty different too. They have different styles, different backgrounds and will be at different weights.
Everything is different. So I don’t want to say who has the better style. That is questionable.”
Klitschko, who turns 44 next month, is still mulling over a potential return to the ring.
His target would be to regain the heavyweight world title at the age of 46 and go one better than George Foreman, who was 45 when he beat Michael Moorer to take the WBA belt in 1994.
And Wlad believes that, despite the attention being trained on Wilder v Fury II, the real No 1 — and man he would be out to beat — is WBA, WBO and IBF world heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua.
Klitschko said: “Joshua is the superior athlete, an Olympic champion, a great guy for the sport and an ambassador for the sport.
“Nobody is perfect but he has the potential to be the one and that’s what I wish.
“We will see who comes out as the best of the three — but I want it to be him.”
Bob Arum says that Deontay Wilder is an ‘atrocious boxer’ but has freak knockout power with staggering record
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
