While most of boxing’s biggest stars reside in lighter weight divisions, nothing quite captivates the interest of fans like the heavyweight championship. And the current kingpin, Wladimir Klitschko - 64-3, 53 KOs, will be back in action to defend his belts against the brash, undefeated Tyson Fury - 24-0, 18 KOs.
For his part, Fury is doing everything he can to royally piss off the champ before their November 24 bout.
CURRENT ODDS
A few sportsbooks have opened with Klitschko as a significant favorite, with a -350 money line. Fury has come in at +300. This is actually a pretty close fight, when you compare the odds for Klitschko’s recent bouts. The total on rounds for this 12-round bout will likely be set around 10.5 rounds. Because BookMaker updates their lines on a daily basis, the odds may shift as more action comes in. Once the fight starts, live betting is also available throughout match.
RISING FURY
Shortly after Tyson Fury made headlines for showing up to a London press conference dressed as Batman, of all things, Wladimir Klitschko delayed the title bout due to a calf injury. The heavyweight champion announced the delay with a video on his Instagram account.
“Dear fans, I am sorry to inform you that I have had to postpone my fight with Tyson Fury due to a minor injury. I am working hard to reschedule the fight, and as soon as I know, I will keep you posted about the new date.”
The bout will now take place a month later on November 24. Reportedly, Klitschko injured the calf during a training session, which German national soccer team doctor claimed was a “partial musculotendinous tear of the left calf.” He’s expected to be 100% healthy by fight night.
This comes as a disappointment for the sport, as a sell-out crowd of 55,000 fans in Dusseldorf was confirmed. And with Fury’s headline-grabbing antics and trash talk, the pre-fight hype was considerable for a heavyweight champion that has struggled to connect with a mainstream audience. Now we’ll have to wait a bit longer.
All pre-fight hype aside, this is a compelling fight for a few reasons. As stated before, it’s the freaking heavyweight championship. Also, we’ve been waiting to see if Klitschko would slow down as he nears 40. He appears as fresh as ever, and he hasn’t taken too many beatings over the course of his impressive career.
But what will sell the fight - besides whatever else Fury does or says - is the fact that Klitschko is 6’6” and Fury is 6’9”. The undefeated challenger is one of the few legitimate contenders that is markedly bigger than the champion, who’s known to keep his opponents at bay with his masterful jab.
Still, this is a sport where skill trumps size, and that’s why Klitschko is so heavily favored. For years, nobody has figured out how to get past that devastating lead jab, and it’s doubtful that Fury has an antidote for it. But Fury is 15 years the junior of Klitschko, and the age gap is also something we have to be cognizant of. There’s no way that the Ukrainian can keep going forever, and he has to be somewhat close to the end of his career.
HOW TO BET
Sign into BookMaker Sportsbook and get all the latest boxing odds, including moneylines, totals and prop bets for the Klitschko vs. Fury card. The event takes place on Saturday,November 24, 2015 at the ESPIRIT Arena in Dusseldorf, Germany and is expected to be televised live on pay-per-view. Don’t miss out to cash in on the heavyweight championship!
Make sure to check in during fight night and get the latest live betting updates. You can bet on real-time odds during the bout, allowing you to hedge your bets or even make new ones as you watch on live television. And with multiple reliable payout options, collecting your earnings is always quick and easy.
