Tyson Fury is pulling a John Elway kinda, sorta. In 2000 Hall of Fame QB John Elway walked away from the Denver Broncos and the NFL as Superbowl Champion. The 6’9 250 lbs heavyweights last fought in 2015 and outpointed Wladimir Klitschko. Clearly out pointed him. Although it wasn’t the worlds most entertaining fight it looked like the heavyweight division had a new face.
Fury was the WBA, WBO and IBF Heavyweight champ, he should have been the face of the new generation of heavyweights. Which is an international brand of big heavyweights with broad appeal. That included him, fellow Brit Anthony Joshua, as well as Louis Ortis, American Heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder, and Joseph Parker. A hodge-podge of BIG hard-hitting international superstars. That could re-establish the heavyweight division to the level it was when it was loaded with talent in the 90’s with the likes of Holyfield, Tyson, Lewis, Bowe Mercer, Tua, and Moorer. Mix in huge names like the Tony Bellew and David Haye that have the drawing power to attract Fury into a mega-fight and the Heavyweight division is wide open. Fury would be favored against any of these fighters or at least in a pick em’ type fight. Fury announced earlier this weeks that he intends to walk away from boxing, without attempting to clean up and become the undisputed, undefeated heavyweight champion of the world and filthy rich at the same time at the young age of 28.
In other shocking news Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley is expected to call it quits. Bradley’s name has been linked to several fights, from a rematch with Vargas to Miguel Cotto to Jeff Horn and Adrien Broner. Unlike Fury, Bradley has already put together a hall of fame career and an 8 figure net worth according to some estimates. If ever there was a fighter’s mentality and heart it was Tim Bradley. The former two division world champion hasn’t fought since April 2016. The Welterweight division is a loaded and wide open division. It features guys like Spence, Thurman, Garcia, Brook, Khan, Horn, and Porter. These are great big named fighters that Bradley could make a ton of money against and potentially beat. Bradley is a highly skilled fighter than can outbox anyone. He wouldn’t be favored, against Spence, but can outbox him and has the chin to stand up to him. Thurman is the one that would give him the most challenges. Bradley would have a game chance to beat any of these fighters and make huge pay days along the way. So why at just 33 years of age and having only lost to only Manny Pacquiao is Desert Storm deciding to call it quits?
Legendary all time great pugilist Roy Jones Jr. has recently called out Tony Bellew. Jones has never retired and has actually stayed quite active. He fought back in February, twice in 2016 and four times in 2015. Including an embarrassing knockout to Enzo Maccarinelli. Roy has made a fortune in the ring has compiled an all-time great legacy that he could never tarnish and has a great job outside the ring with HBO. Despite that he continues to fight at almost 50 years old, Jones’ nemesis Antonio Tarver last fought in 2015 and says he plans to fight again. Shannon Briggs is 44 has failed another PED test and plants to continue to fight. Cornelius Bundrage is 44 and still very active. So why do these fighters continue to fight? There’s nothing like the ring walk, the attention the all eyes on me, the adrenalin rush of a one on one prize fight. These are fighters and this is what they do. Someone is willing to pay them and watch them fight so they continue to do it. It actually makes perfect sense.
