Teesside boxers give their predictions on Tyson Fury against Wladimir Klitschko

Fury: now faces by far the biggest challenge of his undefeated career. Fury needs to get through those menacing straight punches. He has highlighted his concerns before about how he feels at his loneliest moments when he retreats to his darkest corners. “You’re looking at one here”, Fury told Klitschko during a September press conference, having earlier emerged dressed as Batman and staged a fight with an accomplice disguised as Robin. Trust me, that is an odd indicator.

Not that this event needed a weigh-in brawl to sell it exactly.

Fury said he saw “fear” in Klitschko’s eyes. Others say it’s because Klitschko is a foreigner, born to Russian parents in what is now Kazakhstan. The only family member who wasn’t a successful fighter, Tyson Fury once cracked to a British sportswriter, “was me ma”. Sometimes fighters grow old overnight.

Gazette sports writer Adam Steel spoke to five well-known Teesside-area boxers to get their predictions on the outcome of one of the most anticipated fights of recent times. I think it is pretty clear. John even dubbed Tyson as “Wladimir Klitschko’s worst nightmare”. So I’m gonna wind it back in and just wait for the fight night.

“I’m 27 now and polished”, he said.

He has had niggling problems.

He branded British rival David Haye “a classless prima donna” and “a diva” for postponing their fight in 2013, which was eventually cancelled. “It’s been a long road but I’ve finally arrived – and I’m staying”. “I’ve heard it a lot”.

Fury will need to have an elaborate plan for how he intends to hurt Wlad – landing one good shot will excite fans and media alike, but history dictates that this won’t prevent the Ukrainian from overwhelming him.

But Fury’s team are convinced Klitschko is showing signs of degradation.

In his own words he sees a man before him, with two arms, two legs made of blood and bone.

“This is going to be one of my easiest fights”, Fury said, reports The Guardian. “I don’t like fighting smaller guys, they give me problems with their agility”.

Klitschko was put under tremendous pressure and shaken by the unbeaten Kubrat Pulev last November before a fifth-round stoppage. Fury’s movement should also enable him to create unique angles that may – at least momentarily – befuddle Klitschko. “I understand anything can happen in the fight and I have faced injuries before in a fight”, said Klitschko. But people tend not to jump straight back up after being nailed by Klitschko, they tend to go to sleep. Klitschko won by a wide unanimous decision but looked ordinary at times.

“I embrace the fight, I want the fight, it’s exciting”, said 23-year-old Carroll. It is experience, dedication and the love of the game that keeps me winning.

The 6-9 behemoth holds a three-inch height and a four-inch reach advantage over Klitschko. “And then you start thinking Tyson can pull this off. I don’t know whether that is craziness or just the big fight time, but I think he can do it”. He is, we must never forget, a true fighting man.