In an oddly symmetrical pair of bouts, Wladimir Klitschko (who started a few minutes earlier) and Tyson Fury stopped their overmatched, inferior opponents at almost the same time.
The reigning world champion dealt with Tony Thompson, again, in the 6th round of a typically tedious affair with a heavy right hand that left Thompson unable to let go of the corner ropes and walk toward the referee on the count of 8.
Cue the other heavyweight fight of the night.
Brit, Tyson Fury, whose name alone draws a degree of interest continued his ‘development’ with a 5th round stoppage of journeyman, Vinny Maddalone in the less than stellar Hand Arena in Somerset, England.
Though it lacked the sparkling finish that Klitschko delivered, Fury continued to show solid, competent boxing ability and took his inferior opponent apart over 5 rounds before the referee heeded Fury’s calls to stop the fight and put Maddalone out of his misery.
Much like the fight going on in Switzerland, the other guy was never really in the fight.
The American strode forward but shipped a ton of leather from Fury who decided to fight orthodox in this one and kept busy with the jab and back it up with smart combinations.
His variation drew compliments from Al Bernstein who is now a regular on the terrestrial Channel 5 that are carrying Fury’s fights.
By the time of the stoppage, Maddalone’s face was beetroot red from a combination of over exertion, kissing Fury’s gloves repeatedly and the blood leaking from the cut under his left eye.
Job done, as was anticipated, on both sides of the channel.
Given that Fury shows no interest in a domestic clash with British champion David Price, it seems likely that Fury will now move toward Wladimiar, probably via an interim fight against European top tablers such as Helenius, Pulev or Adamek.
Team Klitschko will love the idea of Fury, he is popular in the UK, which brings commercial benefits, and not difficult to hit. It’ll come down to whether Fury can do what no one has managed to do to a Klitschko for a very long time.
Hit them very VERY hard.
More than once!!
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