Fury Warms Up, As Eubank Begins the Comeback Trail

By Owen Meek.

"It's a risky decision but I need to keep busy. Hammer was available and he took the fight,"

Those are the words of the enigma that is Tyson Fury, mandatory challenger to the Kingpin of the Heavyweight division Wladimir Klitschko. This Saturday Tyson will take on Romania’s Christian Hammer at the O2 arena in London.

Whilst Fury and his promoter Frank Warren have spoken at length about the gamble they have taken by taking this fight (the event is dubbed ‘Risky Business’), the truth is that away from the hype and the sell it’s nothing more than a gimme fight to keep the former warm before a supposed summer showdown with either ‘THE’ man in the division, Klitschko or indeed a man seen as the future, Deontay Wilder.

Ranked number 3 in the WBO rankings, Romanian Christian has talked a good fight in the buildup; promising to knock his opponent out and with it derail his title ambitions, yet his record suggests that come fight night the script should and probably will read a little differently. With ten straight wins, one against the durable American Kevin Johnson, one may think he will provide a stern test, however look a little more into his record and it becomes clear that this is a fighter that the oft controversial Fury should have little trouble dispatching especially if he is as good as he says he is.

In his last outing, Fury garnered plenty of criticism for seemingly toying with Derek Chisora. Whilst he showed some new facets to his game and proved that he could stick to a game-plan, his inability to put away what was, on the night a mere punch bag, left many feeling underwhelmed. His opponent on Saturday comes in with a not to dissimilar record as Chisora did, stopped a couple of times and with only a 50% KO ratio, it seems he has little to trouble a man whose greatness is without question…at least in his own mind anyhow.

Like many fights which are made to pass time before a due title shot, the only intrigue and indeed chance of the heavy favourite losing is complacency and this Saturday will be no different. Unless the self-dubbed savior of the division has majorly taken his eye off the ball this should just be an easy step on the road to a major showdown with Wladamir Klitschko.

Prediction: Hammer may make a decent fist of it for the first couple of rounds but expect the jab of Fury to go to work before eventually setting up a big right which finishes the fight somewhere around rounds 5-6.

On the undercard another man whose confidence in his own ability is unwavering, will look to get himself back on track. Chris Eubank Jr was last seen in the ring in November last year…yielding his undefeated record to British rival Billy Joe Saunders. Whilst he put in a good showing to make the fight close, ultimately it seemed it was fight to soon for the son of former great Chris Eubank.

Given that defeat, it must be said that he has taken a relatively decent and perhaps surprising challenge in unbeaten Russian Dmitry Chudinov for the fringe WBA ‘interim’ middleweight title.

The Russian is strong and durable and lacks no confidence. Whilst he does seem rather one dimensional he does possess the power to trouble Eubank Jr; but again for a fighter who has major aspirations, he has spoken of chasing a summer rematch with Billy Joe before testing himself against GGG; it is a fight which Jr should come through unscathed and in style.

Prediction – I expect Eubank to look good in this one, he has an opponent who will come to him and whose power driven style will leave plenty of opportunities for long leaping counters and the favoured uppercut of Jr. The durability of his opponent will ensure the fight goes a fair few rounds before a stoppage just after the midway point, rounds 8/9.

V2 Staff Predictions.

Paul Hampton - Editor At V2 Boxing.

Tyson is a much improved fighter from the early years. Seems to have a better temperment and with Peter Fury in his corner, he will be given clear and precise intructions. I see this being a very professional job, with a stoppage in either round 7 or 8.

Adam Davey - Editor At V2 Wrestling.

I think the first few rounds will be a cagey affair (Tyson fight). Then in the 5th, Hammer will get rocked but it will take until the 7th before Tyson knocks him out.

Jeff Rowley - Forum Moderator at 606v2.

Fury fight will be a bit messy early with Fury arsing around switch hitting. Once he settles down he will get Hammer out of there with relative ease.

Chris Williamson - Senior Boxing Writer At V2 Boxing.

Fury by late rounds stoppage. Think like Jeff says he'll come out posturing, doing a bit of switch hitting and letting Hammer come to him and his jab. Gets tagged with a couple of good shots in the sixth which makes him decide to start putting on more of a show and he lets his hands go more, eventually forcing the referee to step in around the eighth / ninth round.

http://tinyurl.com/n5rhe5r

I think fury realised against Chisora the best way to make his height count was to stand South paw, firing his right jab out like a ram rod. It makes more sence for him to do that against smaller oposition than to stand orthodox throwing a pawing left jab, bringing his head into range trying to land a big right hand. 
I'd expect his tactics to be the same against hammer who I think is 6"2. Fury win with ease, taking little damage, hammer beat down.

Hammer to subtly seduce Fury into a lustful stupor before scoring the KO mid-furious orgasm.

Fury has a lot to lose and Hammer will struggle to get inside. Fury wide decision.

Fury points or mid late stoppage.

Eubank will have been practising how to sit down between rounds with his father for four months, and will use the energy saved to struggle to a dubious hometown decision.

Interesting interview with Fury

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/boxing/tyson-fury-interview-god-and-the-devil-temptation-money-and-sweets--the-fearsome-world-of-fury-10071077.html