All of the smack talking is just about done and much more apparently is now on the line for Saturday’s United Kingdom showdown between British and Commonwealth heavyweight Champion Dereck “Del Boy” Chisora (14-0, 9 KOs) and undefeated challenger Tyson Fury (14-0, 10 KOs) who headline “The Big Brawl: To Settle It All” Pay-per-View event live from Wembley Arena in London.
The scheduled Chisora-Fury 12-round main event has a much more serious world title shot implication for the winner as world champion Wladimir Klitschko recently told The Mirror, “There are tons of guys who could be my next challenger who are young and undefeated. Chisora and Fury are two such fighters and they are going to fight soon. They may not be big names yet in world terms, but I had not heard about David Haye two years ago.”
Fury is a 6’ 9” 260-pound Irishman born in Manchester, England. Named after “Iron” Mike Tyson, the World Boxing Council’s No 21-rated Fury is the cousin of world middleweight contender Andy Lee. In his last action this past February, the physically imposing 261-pound Fury knocked out previously unbeaten Narcelo Luiz Nascimento (13-0) in the fifth round. Other notable United Kingdom heavyweights defeated by Tyson include John McDermott and Scott Belshaw. Fury, only 22, has dedicated his fight against Chisora to the memory of former world heavyweight title challenger and European champion, Sir Henry Cooper.
Fury has served as Klitschko’s sparring partner. “He’s (Fury) tall and he’s almost seven feet,” Klitschko was quoted in The Mirror. “For his size he is flexible and he floats around the ring. He could be a real good boxer if he stays focused because he has talent. I don’t know what he’s like inside, but he definitely has a talent for boxing.”
Klitschko’s famed trainer, Hall of Famer Emanuel Steward, who has worked with Tyson, recently said in a radio interview (On The Ropes), “I think that unlike most people’s expectations, that Tyson Fury’s a very talented guy. We look at him as a big, oversized, very cocky kid. He’s only 22, but he has skills. Just the fact that both of these guys have the mindset of winners, I think this is going to be one of the heavyweight fights. This is the heavyweight fight I want to see myself. I know both guys personally. They’re both strong-willed guys much in the same make-up of Ali and Frazier.
“I think it’s going to be an extremely good fight. I know most people are picking Chisora and probably because of his more professional preparation. Tyson’s sheer physical size; he’s got a good chin, good stamina, and good punch output, also. I think those factors, and being at 6’ 9” compared to 6’ 1” is going to be a big problem for Dereck to overcome. I may be a little crazy, but I give a slight edge to Tyson in this fight, mainly because of the physical size and he has good stamina.”
Mick Hennessy, the promoter of the show as well as Fury’s, had invited Klitschko to attend Chisora-Fury as a special guest, prior to the recent passing of Wladimir’s father. “I want to express my condolences to the Klitschko brothers and their entire family,” Tyson said.
Zimbabwe-native Chisora (14-0, 9 KOs), rated No. 12 by the World Boxing Organization, fights out of London. He has twice had scheduled World Boxing Organization (“WBO”) title fights cancelled against champion Klitschko. “Del Boy” has twice stopped Sam Sexton, winner of “The Prizefighter Heavyweight Tournament,” as well as Mike Tyson-conqueror Danny Williams.
The 12-round co-feature showcases British Boxing Board of Control (“BBB of C”) Light Welterweight Champion Ashley “Treasure” Theophane in his first title defense against Welsh champion Jason “The Power” Cook.
International Boxing Federation No. 14-rated Theophane (29-4-1, 7 KOs) captured the BBB of C light welterweight championship in his last fight, winning a unanimous 12-round decision against Lenny Daws (21-1-2) this past February in London. Ashley’s most significant victories to date have been versus Delvin Rodriguez (DEC10) and former world champion DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley (DEC8).
A former International Boxing Organization and European lightweight champion, The 5’ 9” Cook (28-3-1, 14 KOs) has lost only three times in 32 pro fights, the last in 2009 to former World Boxing Association champion Gavin Rees by three-round decision in the semi-finals of “Prizefighter” tournament.
The third PPV fight features unbeaten British Southern Area Light Middleweight Champion Ryan Toms (8-0, 3 KOs) defending his title belt against “Phat” Pat McAleese (12-1-1, 2 KOs) in a 10-round bout.
“The Big Brawl” PPV event is being distributed in the U.S. by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 3 PM/ET – 12 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, and Avail-TVN, for a suggested retail price of only $24.95. (Check with your PPV provider for same day replay times.) The telecast is also available in Canada to all Super Channel network subscribers.
