Tyson Fury May Not Be Batman, but He Can Still Test Wladimir Klitschko

Tyson Fury must believe that any publicity is good publicity. After all, you don’t turn up for a press conference dressed as Batman, and then stage a brawl with The Joker, without wanting to create attention.

How you personally reacted to Fury’s antics in London on Wednesday most likely depends on your overall thoughts of the man.

His supporters will point to him having the ability to make boxing interesting. His critics, however, will suggest he lacks respect, both for his opponent and the sport itself.

However, it should be made clear that, no matter what he might say about Wladimir Klitschko, Fury will be well aware of the sizeable task he faces on October 24 in Dusseldorf, Germany.

No man has beaten the Ukrainian since 2004. Lamon Brewster was the last to do it, but 22 fighters have tried and failed since. For someone who still holds a reputation for having a soft chin, Klitschko sure has a good way of protecting it.

Dr. Steelhammer has faced some mediocre—and that is putting it lightly—opponents in the last decade.

That's not all his fault, however, as the heavyweight division has been devoid of star quality for some time. The other big name who enjoyed longevity at the top is Vitali Klitschko, and there was never a chance he would go up against his little brother.

So, in recent years, Wladimir has had to make do with the scraps.

Fury might provide a meatier challenge. If he fights half as good as he talks, then that will definitely be the case.

But can the Brit really pose problems for the undisputed king of the heavyweights?

Frank Augstein/Associated Press

If you believe Fury, then the answer to that question is an emphatic yes. He said, per Sky Sports: "I just want to beat the man who's 'The Man' at the moment. Wladimir is 'The Man' and I'm glad I've got my chance. My chance is here now and I'm not going to let it slip—it's my time to shine."

Fury has plenty going in his favour too. At 27, he is in his prime and is 12 years younger than his opponent.

He also has the height (6’9”) and reach (85”) to cause problems, while his knockout ratio of 75 percent shows he packs a punch.

Even Klitschko expects him to pose a threat, telling Sky Sports News HQ: "He's very unpredictable and probably doesn't know himself what kind of plan—A, B, C or D—he's going to have. He fights in both stances comfortably, his size and reach make it difficult, so I'm expecting a very competitive fight."

Klitschko—who stands at 6’6” and has a reach of 81”—won’t be able to keep the physically imposing Fury at long range with his probing jab as he has so often done against smaller opponents.

Mariusz Wach was the last man he faced who held a size advantage. Their fight in 2012 went the distance, but the American-based Pole landed just 60 of the 308 punches he threw. Klitschko, in contrast, found the target with 274 of 693 punches.

Facing someone like Wach would have been helpful for Fury before the biggest fight of his career.

The names are perhaps lacking from the Mancunian’s CV. He has beaten Dereck Chisora twice and also outpointed Kevin Johnson, who took Vitali Klitschko 12 rounds in 2009.

AFP/Getty Images

David Haye should have been on his list of foes, too, but the Brit pulled out of scheduled dates twice because of injury.

However, Haye did make it to the ring to take on Klitschko.

After plenty of pre-fight talk and having chosen to wear a T-shirt depicting him holding the severed heads of both Klitschko brothers at a press conference, Haye barely laid any leather on Wladimir during 12 largely dull rounds in 2011.

Klitschko was unimpressed with Haye’s behaviour beforehand, branding him “disgraceful and disrespectful,” per BBC Sport.

He was more relaxed with Fury and his press-conference shenanigans this week, appearing unfazed by the appearance of Batman.

He also barely flinched when his rival—by this time dressed in a tailored suit and no longer wearing a mask—took off his jacket and threatened to fight him right there and then in response to being called a "clown," as noted by the Mirror's Mike Walters.

Yet Kevin Mitchell of the Guardian believes Fury has the credentials to cause problems for Klitschko:

"

Behind the laughs, there is an unbeaten 27-year-old heavyweight who should at the very least give Klitschko his hardest night—more demanding, certainly, than that provided by the likes of Jean Marc Mormeck, Tony Thompson, Francesca Pianeta, Alex Leapai and Kubrat Pulev, none of whom heard the final bell in challenges since Haye’s.

"

Fury won’t be able to dress up as Batman on October 24, but he will be boxing’s superhero if he manages to end Klitschko’s long reign at the top.

If the fight offers something approaching the same level of entertainment as the presser, then we are in for a treat next month.