Klitschko vs Fury will soon be unfolding at the Esprit Arena, DusseldorfAt the Esprit Arena, Dusseldorf, Tyson Fury defied expectations, and just about everyone’s predictions. The brash Brit outpointed reigning IBF, WBO, WBA Heavyweight champ, Wladimir Klitschko, winning on fair scores of 115-112 (twice) and 116-111. Boxing Base saw it 115-112, taking an 11th round point deduction into account (Fury for hitting behind the head).

First off, congratulations to Fury. A lot of analysts and fans wrote him off prior to the fight, including myself. Fury took Klitschko’s titles, got the win, so end of story.

Well, sort of…

Fury beat the man at the top of the mountain, sure, but this was a close, close fight. And more than anything, dull for the most part. After all of Fury’s endless criticism of Klitschko prior to the fight, most of us were expecting Fury to throw punches in bunches, dazzle us, and even crush the champion, as he’d told media cameras a thousand times.

But on fight night, Fury fought just like the man he’d been playing mind games with during the build up. Klitschko vs Fury was a slow burning, safety first, tentative, battle of the jabs affair. Sure, both men began taking some moderate chances in the 11th and 12th rounds, but they also clinched the hell out of one another.

Klitschko vs Fury was a dull encounter, indeed. And now that’s it’s all over, the drama, the action (?), everything just seems so forgettable and remarkably anticlimactic. All the talk, the singing, the changing of the gloves, the de-padding of the canvas, the re-wrapping of Klitschko’s hand wraps – all so we could see two Heavyweights scoring almost exclusively with jabs, afraid to let their power shots go?

Call me a kill-joy. Call me what you like. But I don’t think either man was deserving of the IBF, WBA, WBO straps tonight. The most entertaining part of the fight was…well, actually after the final bell when Fury serenaded the audience. And that’s really saying something.

Anyway, Fury now improves to 25 wins, no defeats, 18 knockouts, while Klitschko falls to 64 wins, 4 defeats, 53 knockouts. Give us your take on Klitschko vs Fury in the comments, plus the rest of the card.

 

Mark Phillips is the Head Staff Writer/Assistant Editor at BoxingBase.com, and provides worldwide news, coverage and analysis – he can be reached via our Contact Page.