Tyson Fury weighed in lighter than his opponent, Mariusz Wach, for the first time in 15 years as he prepares for their fight in Thailand on Friday. The British boxer registered a weight of 18st 13lb (120kg), which is 26lb less than Wach’s 20st 11lb (132kg).
The heavyweight bout will take place in Pattaya before an audience of approximately 1,500 fans and without a television broadcaster. Fury, who is 37, expressed his satisfaction with his weight, stating, “I’m Mr Slim now. I’m delighted to be here and there are fans here from all over the world.” This marks only the fourth occasion in Fury’s professional career that he has weighed less than his opponent, with the last instance being his initial fight against Derek Chisora in 2011.
Fury was also lighter than John McDermott and Daniil Peretyatko during his career, which spans more than 17 years and includes 38 professional fights. He was 3lb lighter for this weigh-in compared to his previous outing against Arslanbek Makhmudov in April.
Preparation for Future Fights
The fight against Wach is considered a tune-up bout for Fury, intended to prepare him for a proposed showdown with Anthony Joshua in November. Promoters have indicated that a defeat for either Fury or Joshua in their warm-up matches could jeopardise their highly anticipated fight.
Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, stated that Fury wants to remain active and does not wish to be out of the ring for an extended period. Fury himself mentioned his desire to stay busy, even suggesting he might have 10 fights this year after having only one fight in the past two years.
Wach, a 46-year-old veteran, has a professional record of 39-13, including 20 knockouts. His recent form includes seven losses in his last 10 fights, with a knockout defeat by Moses Itauma two years ago. Wach has previously faced notable opponents such as Hughie Fury, Dillian Whyte, Frazer Clarke, and Wladimir Klitschko.
Fight Details and Location
The bout is scheduled for around 10pm local time (4pm UK) on Friday, with Fury unusually being the first fight on the card. He commented on the unique experience, saying, “It’s exciting to box in Thailand. I’m the first one to have done that.” He added that boxing in a small, 1,500-seater stadium will be a new experience for him, akin to the atmosphere of a kickboxer movie.
The decision to hold the fight without a live broadcast is attributed to the desire to minimise risk for Fury ahead of the potential Joshua fight. While live footage will not be available, it is expected that content from the Wach fight will be featured in the third season of Fury’s Netflix series, At Home with the Furys.
Fury has been training in Thailand for the Joshua fight, and the country’s culture has allowed him to maintain a relatively low profile. He aims to give back to the community by hosting the fight at Max Muay Thai Stadium in Pattaya and donating ticket profits to local charities. He is also set to receive the inaugural WBC Humanitarian title on fight night.
Remaining in Thailand also offers logistical advantages, eliminating the need for long-haul travel. This setup allows Fury to conduct all business from his training camp, maintaining control over his environment. This low-risk approach is designed to help Fury gain valuable rounds and sharpen his timing without jeopardising the long-awaited showdown with Joshua.
Anthony Joshua is also scheduled for a warm-up bout against Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
Sam Whitlock is a Sports News Writer at News-GB.org. He moved from local newspapers into digital sport. He focuses on rugby union, golf and boxing and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Gloucestershire and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Gloucester, he plays amateur rugby and follows the fight game. “Clarity beats cleverness in breaking sport news.”