Sport

Tyson Fury on mission to rid boxing of ‘boring’ Wlad

WBO, WBA, IBF and IBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko from Ukraine, left, and his challenger, Britain's Tyson Fury, sit in the Esprit Arena  ahead of their title fight in in Duesseldorf on October 24
WBO, WBA, IBF and IBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko from Ukraine, left, and his challenger, Britain's Tyson Fury, sit in the Esprit Arena ahead of their title fight in in Duesseldorf on October 24 WBO, WBA, IBF and IBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko from Ukraine, left, and his challenger, Britain's Tyson Fury, sit in the Esprit Arena ahead of their title fight in in Duesseldorf on October 24

TYSON Fury accused Wladimir Klitschko of being as charismatic as his underwear when the two met in Dusseldorf yesterday ahead of their heavyweight bout in October.

The unbeaten Fury’s 24-0 record is expected to be seriously tested when he gets in the ring with the WBA, IBF and WBO champion Klitschko, who has not been defeated in 11 years, in Germany.

Fury’s opening address at the press conference was fairly low key by his usual outspoken standards, but Klitschko’s suggestion that the fight was not personal for him helped coax the Manchester man out of his shell.

“It’s a personal mission for me to rid boxing of a boring person like you,” he said.

“I’m interested in all of them belts you’ve got on there. I’m interested in breaking your face in. You’re boring, I want to rid you out of the heavyweight division.

“Your jab-and-grab style – surely all of Europe wants to see you get beaten and all of Europe and the rest of the world will see you get beaten.

“You have about as much charisma as my underpants – zero, none.

You go on – you’re a sports psychologist, you speak 37 different languages, so what? You’re still a robotic person. You’re still not exciting and fun to watch. I am the new blood in the division, you are an old man.”

It had earlier been revealed that the 39-year-old Klitschko had agreed terms on a five-fight deal with German television, an announcement which prompted Fury to query if he would assume that contract once he had defeated him.

However, the 26-year-old was largely more contemplative as he looked ahead to a world-title shot he believes has been long overdue.

“I believe he has never faced a challenge like me ever before and I don’t think he will face a challenge like me again,” Fury said.

“I’m a unique fighter, one of a kind, there’s never been someone like me before in history. A fighter like me only comes around every 1,000 years.”

Klitschko declared himself a fan of Fury’s personality, admitting that while he had not studied his previous bouts yet, his in-ring antics amused him.

He referenced a clip of Fury punching himself during one fight but also stressed he thinks the challenger is confident he can upset him in three months’ time.

The Ukrainian said: “I believe Tyson Fury is really meaning what he is talking about and he is definitely not coming here on October 24 just to be present and be on the canvas. No, he came here to win the championship fight.

“This guy is so entertaining. He sings, he dances, he is a cool dude. He does different things that people like – or hate.

“Some people adore you, some people say they can’t stand you, which is good.”