Chris Oliver, a boxing expert, previews Tyson Fury and Dillian Whyte. The champion is expected to defeat a dangerous opponent at Wembley.
Tyson Fury’s Saturday night homecoming at Wembley is the biggest of all homecomings.
The first ever British lineal heavyweight champion fight between two Brits takes place on UK soil.
Since Fury fought here nearly four years ago, a lot has happened. Fury is not the comeback kid struggling with obesity and depression anymore. He’s now back at the top of the world, having conquered America and Deontay wilder in their epic trilogy.
Pre-fight talk has focused largely on Whyte’s refusal to engage in media interviews and his decision to not attend the press conference. This may have been a good idea considering that nobody is going to win a war of words. It is a sign of how much Fury is a draw that he has attracted a record-breaking crowd almost entirely on his own, and that most of them will be there to witness him.
The build-up is not all about Fury. It is also about how the unbeaten belt-holder approaches the fight. Although it is clear that Whyte will be aggressive and use his roughhouse tactics from the beginning, it’s still a guessing game as it comes to which Fury we will witness. This makes it such an interesting event.
We have grown to love the Fury, the one that ended Wladimir Klitschko’s long reign, because it was fast and full of tricks. He was a skilled switch-hitter and made the most of his height and reach to make his opponents miss. His footwork and reactions were more like a 6’9″ heavyweight and not a 6’9″ middleweight.
Whyte is a dangerous competitor
Although Whyte is available at a premium price of 9/2, it’s no easy task for anyone. However, unlike the promotion, he will definitely take part in the fight.
This shot was a long wait for the Brixton resident. He has won over former champion Joseph Parker (UD), Oscar Rivas (UNBEAT), as well as a pair with Dereck Chisora.
Fury is better prepared
Not to be overlooked is that Fury’s performance against Wilder was not perfect, despite it being one of the most exciting heavyweight fights in recent history. Fury was dropped twice in the fourth round. He also looked tired for long periods and was frequently caught as he tried desperately to finish Wilder, who appeared ready to fight after three rounds.
His preparations were severely interrupted by the birth of his daughter, who was in intensive care. He also had to undergo emergency surgery. It is believed that he only had four weeks of training before the October contest. Although Fury’s version may not be capable of pulling off another Houdini trick when he gets up on the floor to grab the bag against Whyte this time, we can expect him much better prepared and to perform at his best.
Which is the best option for Fury v Whyte?
Although the days of Fury were primarily boxing and moving, I don’t think it will be aggressive against brawlers. We may even see a combination of both styles. He will tell us that he is going for a third stoppage. I have no doubt about it. However, I expect him not to use excessive pressure and only apply the brakes when he feels it is necessary. Fury is a formidable jab that he uses to both occupy and defend his opponents. He will try to keep the distance from the beginning by using it.
Whyte will have to be patient in closing the gap. He will likely need to drink a lot of shots as he tries to get inside. Fury will not be willing to move backwards, so he will have to hold his ground. This is where Whyte can make a comeback by using those heavy hooks to the head and body.
