Mike Tyson’s record-breaking and tumultuous career was recently capped off as he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Fast forward a generation and another heavyweight Tyson, the 6’9″ Tyson Fury, sets out to create his own legacy when he challenges British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion Dereck Chisora on July 23 at Wembley Arena.
Excitement started building for this fight as soon as it was announced and with the help of a ringside scuffle between the pair at a recent boxing show it has gathered more momentum. It is definitely fair to say that there is no love lost between the super confident pair, each of whom sport nearly identical records, with Fury standing at 14-0 with 10 stoppages, and Chisora currently at 14-0 with 9 KO wins.
Chisora vs. Fury Preview
They say styles make fights and if so this looks to be one that could gel perfectly. The tall, rangy Fury uses his reach advantage well. However, he isn’t afraid to take chances and brawl when seeking a stoppage, and with his power he could force one at any time.
Chisora isn’t exactly afraid to mix it up either and is very effective when pushing forward, exhibiting a ruthless efficiency in finishing his opponents once he gets them hurt. The fact that this fight could change pace at the blink of an eye makes it compelling and the cocky personalities of both boxers makes it one worth watching.
One could argue that Chisora deserves the right to the largest strut after facing sterner opposition in amassing his 14-0 record, including twice defeating Sam Sexton and ending the career of Mike Tyson conqueror and world title challenger Danny Williams. However, inactivity has been a factor for Dereck due to two potential title shots against Wladimir Klitschko falling through.
With each of these two men appearing to be on the cusp of emerging even farther, and vying for the much coveted Lonsdale belt very early in their respective careers, this fight looks to have come around at the perfect time for Fury. A win would see him crowned domestic champion at just 23 years old. Meanwhile, a loss would surely still give him enough time to regroup and come again.
Fury will draw a lot of confidence from his last fight, against the constant rock of the British heavyweight division that is John McDermott, as he succeeding in knocking out the Londoner with a superb display of power punching to defend the English title he won from the same opponent in a tightly contested 12 round decision. He’ll also be counting on a certain degree of ring rust from Chisora, through not fighting for a year, and should look to pressure Dereck in the early rounds and temporarily sacrifice his huge reach advantage to force a stoppage.
If Chisora makes it through the early onslaught however, look for him to force the pace and drag Tyson into the trenches where one would favor ‘Del Boy’ to prevail, which makes it a captivating 50/50 fight. One thing for certain is that this looks to be the heavyweight title fight the British public deserve after the David Haye vs. Audley Harrison debacle.
Fury vs. Chisora Prediction
The referee or Tyson’s corner to stop the fight after a gutsy display from both fighters. Chisora has a more complete game and skill-set, as well as a bit more experience against seasoned opponents, which will carry him through, help him get the fight to the later stages, and see him retain his titles with a stoppage somewhere around the 11th.
