You may be wondering why a wrestling blog has taken a moment to comment on boxing. Well, Sports Entertainment could be described as fictitious characters performing physical excursions to fulfil predetermined results. In this regard, Saturday’s World Heavyweight Championship boxing match is pure “Sports Entertainment.”
Just like in the world of WWE, everyone knows how the result should go unless there’s a mistake. And this doesn’t matter, we’ll be watching for the spectacle. Tyson Fury has played his part well. Unable to bring equal boxing ability to the ring, he’s been an excellent entertainer. Whether he is aware of the sideshow he’s become is debatable. He probably thinks the entire would is laughing with him.
But he is playing a part: The role of a fictitious boxer. In his 24 bouts there has been no evidence to suggest he is worthy of being a world champion. When compared to upcoming talents like Anthony Joshua, it’s clear his performance in the role, which he has fully embraced like a method actor, is the main reason he fights for gold on Saturday night.
In Wladimir Klitschko we have the giant from the Eastern Bloc, but in the politically correct world of today, rather than play the stereotypical Cold War villain, he plays the soft-spoken good guy. The brains to Fury’s village idiot act.
Tyson deserves credit for making the public ponder the possibility that an upset could occur. He’s out jabbed Wlad with words all week in the run-up to the fight. Minds will be cast back to Klitschko’s two defeats, when he was knockout by Corrie Sanders and Lamon Brewster.
This is the same narrative contenders use every time they
face Wladimir and threaten a repeat. But the last of those KOs was over 11
years ago. What makes Fury’s hope less probable is the belief he lacks a
powerful punch.
Cliché Alert! But in the heavyweight division anyone can land a
knockout. The wrong punch at the right time will end a fight. Klitschko has
reinvented himself since the last defeat and has become as defensive as
Mayweather, highly unlikely to make a mistake.
Mistakes do occur though. We also know the Klitschko DNA
drops away fast when age sets in. His brother, Vitali, was the better boxer.
But when age caught up with him it happened all at once. Against Dereck Chisora
he flattered the British boxer, making him appear more credible than he is, and
laboured through to a points victory.
Wladimir could well face such a moment in a fight anytime
soon. Tyson Fury proved against Chisora he can be patient and manage a fight
correctly when he cares to concentrate. What if he tears up the script and lands
an accidental knockout punch?
It would make a sport struggling for credibility fall
further apart. Klitschko needs a big win to validate his title reign – which
should get more recognition than it currently enjoys – and to prove that Tyson
Fury is a level or two below the top prize fighters.
That video was just meant as a fun dig at Tyson, it was made
at the start of 2014 before his planned July bout with Dereck Chisora. Its
creation shows how little regard there is for Fury. Nobody would dream of such
a jibe at Klitschko’s expense or would have started a humorous campaign against
Lennox Lewis when he was still active in the ring.
It’s possible with Fury because no one takes his boxing ability
seriously and when he’s parading around dressed as Batman it’s hard to give the
man much consideration. I see the hypocrisy, as I’m sat typing with facemask
and lion headwear, but I’m not claiming to be the man that will knockout
Wladimir Klitschko.
For the sake of the sport he needs to finish the night lay
on the canvas. But I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a part of me that was
flirting with the idea of hoping he wins. It’s the same part that cheered on
Sid Justice against Hulk Hogan at Wrestlemania
VIII, or how I secretly hope the Joker gets one over on Batman (and was
chuffed when he killed Robin) or smiled when Germany thumped Brazil 7-1 in
their own World Cup.
My head says it will be a Klitschko win. My heart hopes it
is. The part of me that enjoys a bit of anarchy and turmoil hopes it’s Fury.
In a boxing world where everyone’s more concerned with their
legacy than the contest, it’s refreshing to see Tyson Fury’s attitude. In his
own words: He’s a fighting man. Regardless of the result on Saturday, his
outlook will remain the same.
