Heavyweight contender, Tyson Fury, has been a name in the division for several years now, and while his name has been in spotlight, he has yet to get a shot at the heavyweight crown. Fury, now 26, has raised his position to the number 1 spot and after years of set backs, he is now finally set to meet the IBO/WBA/RING heavyweight champion of the world, Wladimir Klitschko in the fall.
In this ?On The Ropes? boxing radio interview with trainer Peter Fury, I discuss with him his nephews upcoming title shot shot against Wladimir Klitschko and how he thinks he will do in the long awaited bout. Peter also shares his thoughts on the current boxing landscape, gives his views on Amir Khan, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. Additionally, Fury gives his prediction for Fury-Klitschko and what it will mean to win the heavyweight title. Here is what Peter Fury had to say.
Jenna J: Tyson Fury appears to be next in line to fight Wladimir Klitschko this September. How do you feel about that?
Peter Fury: I?m excited. Me and Tyson have worked for this coming up for four years now and we?re very excited with it. We just can?t wait to get the fight all signed and ready to go.
Jenna J: When do you think the fight will officially take place and where do you think it will be held at?
Peter Fury: I?m hoping it?s going to officially take place sometime in September or early October, hopefully in the UK.
Jenna J: Tyson has had an opportunity to fight Wladimir before but he wanted to earn his mandatory position. Do you feel that him getting a title shot now is the perfect time?
Peter Fury: Yes I do because Tyson?s never stopped improving. He?s grown up, he?s come of age and now it is the right time for Tyson. He?s gonna be ready, he?s gonna be focused. He?s mentally mature now as well, he?s grown up in the ring as well. It?s gonna be a very interesting fight. We?re not interested in challenging for fight, we have every intention of winning it.
Jenna J: Tyson has had several delays in his career with several opponents pulling out of scheduled fights. Do you think those delays hurt this fight? Do you think the fight is still as big even with all the delays?
Peter Fury: I think it?s as big now as it?s ever going to be. I think it?s bigger now as well than what it was ever going to be in the past because the only reason Tyson has not boxed so regularly is because they(past opponents) have taken the fight on and avoided him because they realize what type of character they?re getting in the ring with.
We?ve had pull outs after pull outs, but still we finally got into that mandatory position, which is excellent news. There?s an old saying, ?You can?t change yesterday, but you can change tomorrow.?
Jenna J: Do you think Tyson?s chances of winning the fight are better now due to the fact that Wladimir is a little older and in his last fight he showed that he can be hit?
Peter Fury: No, I don?t. I think this is where people get the underestimation of Wladimir, because he performs differently with every fight. Bryant Jennings is a very good fighter, although he has not had that much experience, he?s still a very clever, astute boxer. Wladimir did what he had to do and he won a unanimous decision. I don?t think he?s on the slide, I think we?ll see a very good Wladimir against Tyson and that?s what we are expecting.
Jenna J: I want to get your thoughts on Amir Khan. He recently boxed against Chris Algieri and some people saw that as an audition for a fight with Floyd Mayweather, and they weren?t that impressed. What did you see?
Peter Fury: I never actually watched the fight but I don?t think Mayweather is really going to get up for Khan because I think Mayweather wants to fight real opponents. I think the one for Mayweather is Alvarez again, I think that would be a good fight.
I think Amir Khan would be a good fight with him and Kell Brook. I think they?re both on similar levels and that would be a good fight. I don?t think anybody is anywhere near Mayweather. I think they?re only stepping in there to get a payday.
Jenna J: I?m sure you saw Mayweather bout with Manny Pacquiao. A lot of people were displeased that Pacquiao came in with a shoulder injury. Do you think both fighters owed the fans more after all the talk?
Peter Fury: Yeah I do. I lost a lot of respect for ?Pac-Man? to be honest because when he?s got a shoulder injury, why go ahead with the fight? People paid hundreds of thousands, millions lost in gambling. It?s bringing boxing into a bad name, to say, ?I?m 100% fit,? then fight and then say, ?I couldn?t do my job because my shoulder is damaged.?
It?s definitely not good for business, I don?t think it?s good for anything, except for them. The only thing it was good for was for the fighters themselves, because Mayweather is laughing his way to the bank.
Jenna J: Do you think those two will ever have a rematch? Do you think there?s any point?
Peter Fury: I don?t think there?s any point. I think Mayweather will beat Pacquiao seven days a week, he finds a way. Come forward fighters for Mayweather, that?s just the way it is. He?s an excellent back foot fighter and he?s mastered that to almost genius level. I think Mayweather is definitely going to retire undefeated, I don?t think there?s anyone around to touch him.
Jenna J: Let?s turn things back to the fight between Wladimir Klitschko and Tyson Fury. How do you think that fight ends up?
Peter Fury: For me, it?s going to be a switched on Tyson. A young, hungry, determined Tyson taking on Wladimir. I predict a stoppage, mid to late rounds.
Jenna J: What will it mean to you to see Tyson Fury win a heavyweight championship?
Peter Fury: It means the world, but it?s not just the heavyweight championship, he then becomes the undisputed champion of the world. There won?t be word to mention, it will be a life times work. It?s his dream, he always said from being a little boy, ?I?m going to be a world champion.?
I believe some people have it in their destiny and I believe Tyson is one of them. You only got to have a look at his past, what everybody said about him. Look what?s happened over the years as he grew up and matured. You haven?t seen the real Tyson yet either. He?s 6?9, he?s gonna be in super shape and you?re gonna see what Emanuel Steward said, ?He will be the next undisputed heavyweight champion in the world.? May he rest in peace, lets see if his prediction comes true on September or October.
