The debate surrounding resumes and legacy is a constant in the sport of boxing – Barry McGuigan has weighed in on Tyson Fury’s standing and how his record stacks up.
Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk are both back in the ring in August in solid fights against Dillian Whyte and Daniel Dubois respectively, while WBC champion Fury makes his return to the squared circle in October.
In his column for The Mirror, Irish promoter and former professional boxer Barry McGuigan believes that the upcoming bout with former MMA champion Francis Ngannou is a “circus curiosity” that doesn’t reflect well on boxing, and doesn’t do Fury’s legacy any favours.
“Boxing needs to take a hard look at itself. The failure of Fury to meet either Joshua or Usyk is demoralising, no matter where the fault lies.
Fury is undefeated and claims to be the best. Then prove it. Beating Deontay Wilder twice is a feather in his cap but outside that his record is hardly substantial.”
Fury has fought just four times in four years since his second win over Wilder. Following that he had a straightforward mandatory defence win over Dillian Whyte and has beaten Derek Chisora for a third time.
None of that has impressed McGuigan.
“Fury has fought only four times since 2019. Since beating Wilder a second time he has whacked Dillian Whyte and Derek Chisora. Big deal. In October he is facing an opponent who has never even boxed. MMA is not boxing. Francis Ngannou can’t kick Fury into submission. Neither can he wrestle him to the ground.
No matter how physically imposing Ngannou might be, how hard he hits, he is not a credible opponent for a heavyweight world champion. It is not a serious fight for grown-ups. It’s reality TV, a circus curiosity, but not sport.”