Boxing used to be a simple sport. Its complexities should become even less accentuated when a fighter becomes a world champion. To put it in its simplest form, just fight other good fighters. Tyson Fury, however, is making things far more complicated than it has to be.
In just over a month, the WBC titlist will be taking on boxing newbie and former UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou. Otto Wallin, a former opponent of Fury, isn’t a fan of what the current heavyweight king is doing. Although he would love another crack at Fury, he merely wants him to face the division’s best.
“I think it’s bad,” Wallin told Boxing Scene during a recent interview. “He’s the heavyweight world champion. He should defend it against a top contender.”
By and large, Wallin’s words will be in one ear and out the other. Gone are the days of Fury lining up against fighters who have scratched and clawed their way up the ranks. Fury, to his own admission, revealed that he wants to continue going down the route of fighting former and current UFC champions. He’s even flirted with the idea of fighting in the cage.
While it might be vexing for Wallin and the rest of his heavyweight brothers, the 32-year-old isn’t oblivious to what Fury is doing. For whatever reason, a matchup against Ngannou has captured the imagination of fans everywhere. Meaning, both Fury and Ngannou are set to take home hefty paychecks.
Wallin won’t sit here and get in the way of Fury’s ginormous payday. But while he has no issue with Fury making bank, Wallin does believe that the WBC sanctioning body needs to step in.
“I know why he’s fighting Ngannou. He’s making a lot of money I’m sure. I really hope that after this fight he’s gonna defend against somebody ranked in the WBC, otherwise they should strip him.”
By Hans Themistode