BY PAUL HAMPTON
On the 26th of July, two of Britain’s best heavyweights will collide. Tyson Fury (22-0, 16kos) faces Dereck Chisora (20-4, 13kos) in a rematch of their 2011 clash, which Fury won via a unanimous point’s decision.
It could be argued that since their first meeting the Londoner has gone on to face the bigger names in boxing, Robert Helenius, Vitali Klitschko and his big domestic showdown against David Haye, and while he lost all three of those fights the experience he will have gained will be invaluable.
Fury on the other hand, has developed his record slowly. He made his American debut against Steve Cunningham in 2013, during which he was dropped heavily in the second round, but got off the canvas to score a knockout victory before serenading the crowd after the result had been announced.
There are big questions about the form and fitness of Fury who spent most of last year preparing for a fight with David Haye which never came off due to injuries, however his comeback fight earlier this year was successful against Joey Abell who he knocked down four times. In comparison the Finchley fighter has has had 6 fights in two years, which by todays standards is extremely active, five of which were in the last year. His form has been excellent, stopping four of his last five opponents, before winning a wide points decision against Kevin Johnson.
Just like the first fight I expect size to be a major factor in this fight. In the first fight, size was a factor because of the weight that Chisora came in at, he, like Fury before this one, was coming off the disappointment of a fight with Wladimir Klitschko falling through and came in at a career heaviest.
I don’t expect weight to be the issue, the importance I am placing on size this time is because through his
PREVIEW: JUNE