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By: Sean Crose
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It’s considered one of the most boring fights in the heavyweight division – and that’s, frankly, saying something. Having just gotten over the disappointment of the 2015 Floyd Mayweather – Manny Pacquiao fight, fans watched heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko’s title defense against brash Englishman Tyson Fury in November. Klitschko was the favourite, but it was Fury who won the day through clever defensive fighting that many found unbearable. Although Fury has gone on to a very colorful career at the top of the heavyweight division, it’s hard to imagine the Klitschko fight being on Tyson Fury’s list of best fights.
Enter a Turki Alalshikh. The Saudi sports boss has literally changed the geography of the sport of boxing in a very short space of time. Clashes once expected to erupt in the United States of Europe are now occurring in Saudi Arabia. Give this to Alalshikh: the guy really loves boxing. That said, the man had some interesting news for the fighting world on Thursday: he wouldn’t mind seeing Fury and Klitschko face off again. “The result of Tyson and Usyk,” Alalshikh said on Ariel Helwani’s show. Many people are waiting for them. One of these is Dubois. Another is Joshua. At the same time, there is a third person.”
And that “third person” is the former longtime heavyweight knockout artist. “I’m dreaming,” he continued, “to see this fight to give a chance, if he accepts, to Klitschko to become the oldest heavyweight champion ever.” People might not be over the moon about the possibility of a rematch, but there’s an interesting element here. For one thing, both men are noticeably older than they were when they first met, especially Klitschko. Fury is now 36 years old while Klitschko is currently 48 – quite an advanced age for a professional boxer. Additionally, Fury has taken part in a few wars since he faced Klitschko for the first time. These things take a toll on a fighter. What impact would the wear and tear of years and fighting have on the Fury-Klitschko rematch?
Klitschko spent a lot of time outside the ring. In fact his last fight was a thrilling comeback attempt in 2017 against then world titlist Anthony Joshua. It’s not as long as the nearly 20-year hiatus Mike Tyson took before his ill-fated fight with Jake Paul, but it’s still a long, very long time between professional fights. Boxing is a dangerous sport and becomes even more dangerous with age.
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Something else to consider.
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