Boxing Betting 
/ Ralph Ellis / 21 June 2011 / Leave a Comment 
One of British boxing's brightest prospects - Tyson in action
"I’ve always felt you have to take risks. If you take hard fights you learn quickly."
What will it be like for David Haye to get in the ring with Wladimir Klitschko? Britain's youngest, brightest heavyweight prospect Tyson Fury should know after sparring with the IBF, WBO and IBO world champion. Betfair went to see him to find out . . .
Hi Tyson. How's your preparation to meet Dereck Chisora going?
Really good thanks. The adrenalin is starting to kick in. The fight's on July 23 but to be honest I'd get in the ring with him tomorrow if I could.
It's a big step for you to fight for the British title at just 22. Heavyweights are not normally so young.
There's an old saying that if you're good enough you are old enough. I could have taken easier fights and spent longer fighting bums to build up a record like some people do, but I've always felt you have to take risks. If you take hard fights you learn quickly. You have to work with and against the best you can
Is that why you went sparring with Klitschko?
It was a great opportunity. It was in November and I'd worked with his trainer Emmanuel Steward. He asked me if I'd like to go to Germany and I couldn't turn that down. It was inspiring seeing how he worked
Did you get hit?
Thankfully not by one of his big shots. I managed to keep out of the way of them. It wouldn't matter what protection you had on - if he caught you with one of those big ones you'd know. It was a good experience, and gave me a lot of confidence to work with a top guy like that.
What are his body punches like?
Hard, but then to be honest, in heavyweight boxing if you get hit with anybody's punches they all hurt and the damage they cause . . . You are talking about blokes who are 17 or 18 stone, you are gonna, if you get punched flush in the face off anyone that size, it is going to hurt. You can't take too much notice of that. My dad always said that if you can feel a shot and think: 'This guy is a hard puncher', you are in there. It's when you don't feel a shot and you wake up on the floor that you know they are a phenomenal puncher!
How will Klitschko be preparing?
He will be training really hard and will have all his conditioners and doing lots of swimming and stuff. He's always in great shape anyway but he'll be training really hard for this one
Does he have a big team around him?
Yeah, there are lots of people, his own chefs, his conditioners, his stretching people, everything. He's got Emmanuel Steward out there too so it's all good.
You worked with Emmanuel. Tell us about him.
He's a lovely feller, a great guy, it was a really good experience to be out there with him. I was there at the Kronk Gym, a brilliant atmosphere, everyone got on in the gym and it was just fantastic training.
Will he be doing technical stuff with Wladimir, or is it more mind games?
It's both, a lot of technical stuff and a lot of talking as well which helps. Fighting is in the brain as well as the fists, you have to get your tactics right and be measured.
That will include thoughts about the size difference for Haye then. People argue he is not a true heavyweight. What's your view?
He is small for a heavyweight, but funnily enough I've just been watching tapes of Larry Holmes v Michael Spinks. Spinks was only a light heavyweight coming up to the top and he's done ok so I don't think size is the only factor. If you are good, then you are good. Full stop. They always say a good big man will beat a good little man, but Larry Holmes was a good big man, and Michael Spinks was a good small man and he unified the light heavyweight division, didn't he? It's what happens on the night. My personal opinion of the fight is that I think Klitschko has been there and done that. He's fought a lot of people like David Haye, around the 6ft 2, 6ft 3 mark who punch hard, fast people like Eddie Chambers, and I think that Klitschko will deal with him quite easily.
Our market says Wladimir inside the distance is the [2.34] favourite? Is that right?
Well, we don't know what will happen, and it does depend on which Klitschko turns up for the fight. If it's the negative one, who wants to win on points, then he'll win on points, but if he goes out and looks for the knockout then he'll probably win by a knockout. Either way I can't see it being anything but a win for Klitschko.
What glimpse did you get of his mentality?
He's got a strong mentality. He doesn't let things get to him much. The way to beat him would be to get to him and make him come out swinging. Then you have more chance. If you play it easy and don't upset him he will box away easy at the same pace.
That's been Haye's tactic to upset him, going right back to the T shirt with his head severed. Did that overstep the mark?
That's one of those things, everyone to their own. It's got him the fight, hasn't it? It's a unification heavyweight fight that the world hasn't seen for a decade, since Lennox Lewis fought Evander Holyfield.
It makes it the glamour division again?
I think David Haye is great for world boxing and especially British boxing because he's got the charisma, he's good looking, he's got the power, it's like all drama. It's bringing the glory days back for boxing and he's doing a brilliant job.
A bit of a good example for you then?
In those ways, although I'm a totally different fighter to him. His career will be shorter than mine because I think I can stay at the top. I'm not trying to be funny but I think this is the start of my era, after David Haye and the Klitschko's have gone, which won't be too long. In another 18 months when I am ready to fight for a world title they will be either finished or retired, and bar them I don't see too many out there. You have Chisora that I'll handle soon, and maybe a rematch, Robert Herenius and that's about that.
We like your confidence.
You need it, but I'm grounded too. I'm working hard. In Britain I'm probably the most experienced of the new heavyweights but I'm only 22. Among the prospects I think I'm the most grounded professional. I'm not including David Haye, I don't measure myself there, I'm on about the other up and coming people. They've all been fed dead bodies, but I've had much sterner tests and I think that's benefitted me in the long run.
Thanks for your time and we've a free £50 bet for a favourite charity.
That can go to the Rhys Daniels Trust - I've just come back from La Cala in Spain where I played in the Max Clifford golf tournament to support the charity. My golf wasn't its 'A' game, I've only played twice in 18 months, but it was great fun. And as for my bet, I'll follow the market and back Wladimir Klitschko to win inside the distance at [2.34].
*Tyson Fury fights Dereck Chisora for the British and Commonwealth Heavyweight titles on July 23 at Wembley Arena. Ring Wembley Arena 24hr box office on 0844 815 0815 or go to www.wembleyarena.co.uk
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