Tag: Otto Wallin

Frank Warren comfortable with Tyson Fury’s change of trainers

Promoter Frank Warren said he’s fully confident Tyson Fury “knows what he’s doing in bringing in Javan SugarHill Steward.”

A new trainer is sometimes interpreted as a sign of uncertainty, if not turmoil, but Tyson Fury promoter Frank Warren is comfortable with Fury’s decision to fire Ben Davison and hire SugarHill Steward before the heavyweight rematch with Deontay Wilder on Feb. 22.

No worries, Warren says

“I know there is some concern about Fury changing trainers ahead of such a colossal clash,’’ Warren told The Mirror, a U.K. publication.  “I’m certainly sad to see him split with Ben Davison because the pair were great together.

“But when Fury appointed Davison as the man to help him get back to the top many questioned him using such a young trainer. How wrong they were.’’

Davison was a key in helping Fury fight his way back into the championship mix after he slipped into a lifestyle that included more drugging, drinking and dining than training. Fury was reportedly about 400 pounds about a year before his controversial draw with Wilder on Dec. 1, 2018 at Los Angeles’ Staples Center.

But a difficult decision over then-unknown Otto Wallin on Sept. 14 in Las Vegas generated widespread criticism of Davison in a fight that left Fury badly bloodied. On Dec. 15, Davison was fired and Steward was hired.

Fury, who says he is already in camp for the rematch, said he made the move because he had grown “stale.’’ He said he already had a relationship with Steward, the former Javan Hill and a nephew of the late Hall of Famer Emanuel Steward.

“I am fully confident he knows what he’s doing in bringing in Javan SugarHill Steward to take the corner for the Wilder rematch,’’ Warren said. “Few fighters know what’s best for them (more) than Fury and he will not have made the decision lightly.”

Eddie Hearn: Tyson Fury risks opening cut if he spars with Anthony Joshua

Anthony Joshua promoter Eddie Hearn says Tyson Fury is at risk of rupturing a healed wound above his right eye if Joshua spars with Fury.

Anthony Joshua promoter Eddie Hearn says Tyson Fury is at risk of rupturing a healed wound above his right eye if in fact Joshua joins Fury as a sparring partner for the rematch with Deontay Wilder on Feb. 22.

Hearn told iTV Monday that he wouldn’t be surprised if Joshua in fact did spar with Fury, who is expected to train in Detroit with new cornerman SugarHill Steward.

“Doesn’t matter what I or (Joshua trainer) Rob (McCracken) will say, he’ll just go,’’ Hearn said. “I wouldn’t want to open up that cut.”

There were some of the same concerns when Fury jumped into pro-wrestling in Saudi Arabia on Oct. 31. He emerged from that Halloween show with no reported issues with the cut, which required 42 stitches in surgery on the day after Fury suffered the nasty wound in a decision over Otto Wallin on Sept. 14 in Las Vegas.

Fury, who also sustained a cut on his right eyelid against Wallin, was cleared to resume sparring this month. However, boxing isn’t scripted like pro wrestling.

Accidents happen, in sparring and fights. Wilder has already promised to test the cut early and often in their ESPN/Fox pay-per-view fight at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand.

“I’m going to find out just how good his plastic surgeon is,’’ Wilder said at a news conference in late September.

Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury II: 6 early questions to ponder

Many questions surround the rivalry of Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury. Here are six questions going into their Feb. 22 rematch.

The Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury rematch is now official for Feb. 22 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on pay-per-view.

We’ll have plenty of time to discuss the ins and outs of the matchup in the coming weeks, as the hype figures to hit a fevered pitch. For now, here are five early Wilder-Fury II questions to ponder:

Did Wilder learn lessons in the first fight that will lead to victory in the rematch?

Wilder has suggested that he was unable to knock out Fury in their first fight because he tried too hard to do so. That’s plausible. Perhaps Wilder’s knockdowns last December came late in the fight – in Rounds 9 and 12 – because he finally settled down and waited for openings to present themselves rather than forcing the issue. Of course, another possibility is that Fury is just a much better boxer than Wilder and, because he was getting tired, let his guard down a few times. One thing seems certain: Wilder won’t rush things the second time around.

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Tyson Fury, trainer Ben Davison go separate ways

Ben Davison, Tyson Fury’s trainer for the last five fights, confirmed Sunday that he and the heavyweight contender have split.

Tyson Fury is looking for a new trainer just 10 weeks before his scheduled rematch with Deontay Wilder.

Ben Davison, Fury’s trainer for the last five fights, confirmed Sunday that he and Fury have split.

In a tweet Sunday, Davison said: “Tyson and myself had to both make decisions for our careers, which resulted in our working relationship coming to an end, HOWEVER, we remain friends and he will SMASH the DOSSER!!’’

Trouble between Fury and Davison has been brewing since his bloody decision over Otto Wallin, then an unknown Swede, on Sept. 14 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand.

Fury’s father, John, criticized Davison, saying that Fury was unprepared and in poor condition. Fury suffered a nasty cut above his right eye and on the eyelid. He needed 42 stitches.

“That is the worst I have ever seen him,’’ John Fury said then. “It has gone terribly wrong in the camp and someone is to blame.”

Fury’s rematch of his draw with Wilder more than a year ago is scheduled for Feb. 22. It wasn’t clear Sunday who might succeed Davison.