Tyson Fury shocked the world when he defeated longstanding heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko in Germany. He had never faced anyone as accomplished as Dr. Steelhammer and yet he did what few believed he was capable of doing.
He not only won. He won decisively.
In the wake of his victory, the new WBA/IBF/WBO/IBO heavyweight champion has continued to make waves. Fury has been opining on this and that with seemingly reckless abandon. His remarks have caused some to nod their head in agreement, while others can’t believe their ears.
But no matter what the new champion says, be it sublime or ridiculous, Fury has established in no uncertain terms that he intends to play by his own rules. That can be an iffy proposition in life. It can also be an iffy proposition in boxing.
When Wladimir Klitschko ruled the roost he fought many a Johnny-come-lately in order to keep his belts. It wasn’t pretty, as he methodically buried more men than a gravedigger, but he at least kept the title from being splintered any more than it was splintered when his brother Vitali retired.
But that was then and this is now and Fury, by refusing to fight Vyacheslav “Czar” Glazkov, the IBF’s mandatory, the sanctioning body has decided to strip the newly crowned champion of his title.
“It’s true,” said IBF Championships Chairman Lindsey Tucker. “He’s been stripped of his IBF belt. Our challenger was Vyacheslav Glazkov, but instead Fury’s gone and signed a rematch clause with Wladimir Klitschko.”
Naturally Fury wants a rematch with Klitschko—and who can blame him? There was a rematch clause he intends to honor. And then of course there’s the money the fight will generate.
Those of us of a certain age can recall what it was like to have the heavyweight title splintered into several pieces. But instead of allowing Fury to have his rematch with Klitschko, the IBF has ordered Glazkov to face Charles Martin for its heavyweight title.
When Fury was asked about being stripped of the IBF belt, he said, “I think they should take them all off me if they want. If they want to, if they want to take all the belts, they can take them, but they’ll never take what I’ve done and my achievements.”
This article was penned by the author who is not related to the WBA and the statements, expressions or opinions referenced herein are that of the author alone and not the WBA.
