Tyson Fury: It doesn’t get any bigger than this

Wladimir Klitschko is a strong favourite to retain his world heavyweight crown against Tyson Fury when the two step into the ring in Germany on Saturday night.

Having dressed up as Batman at a prior press conference to promote the fight, Fury has been enthusiastically colourful before the fight but the challenger has seemingly taken a more serious approach to the bout in recent days.

Middlesbrough’s Reg Long, a former Northern Area light heavyweight champion and now chief inspector for the British Boxing Board of Control’s Northern Area Council: “I think Klitschko has got too much off for Fury”. Staying at the end of Klitschko’s punches is boxing suicide, and Fury’s crafty in-fighting ability could allow him to rough Klitschko up and disrupt his timing. However, fans and viewers could wait a little longer while the announcements and national anthems for each fighters’ country are played.

“It’s about winning and beating somebody who “can’t be beaten” because there’s not many people who believe I can win on Saturday night”. That’s all I can tell you.

As always critics are out there saying this is just another victim and Fury doesn’t belong in the same ring with Klitschko.

The challenger certainly talks a good game when in full flight, but the challenge he faces in an effort to defeat Klitschko is a formidable one.

Wladimir Klitschko has held the title since 2005, recently passing the 10 year mark.

“I have wanted this fight for ages and it’s almost here”. “I’ll put him to bed in the sixth round”.

“And how many times has he defended his titles?”

“I’m a 4-1 underdog but Cassius Clay (later to become Muhammad Ali) was a big underdog against Sonny Liston and he knocked him out”. In 2013 Russia’s unbeaten Alexander Povetkin also made Klitschko fight in an ugly brawl in Moscow, where the Ukrainian champion was paid a hefty $17.5m. Even if I beat Wlad in one second, is it going to get any bigger than this? The Briton goaded him during their staredown the day before, asking for a smile – “let’s see those teeth” – and complimenting him on the way he smells.

“He’s got to do everything to try and negate Klitschko’s jab”.

“I think he’s taken the heavyweight champion under water a bit because he’s got no flair or flamboyancy”. One thing’s for sure, we’re excited to find out. Klitschko’s been in some clunkers in his time as champion when he faced Alexander Povetkin, Mariusz Wach, David Haye and Jean-Marc Mormeck.

These antics have done nothing to rattle Klitschko, who claims that a defeat will only come from his own faults, not the work of any other fighter, per the Daily Mail’s Jeff Powell: “To lose I would have to defeat myself”. Well, Tyson Fury is a decent yardstick.

“I really hope he does win the fight”.