Tyson Fury weighed less than his opponent, Mariusz Wach, for the first time in 15 years during the weigh-in for their upcoming fight in Thailand. The fight, scheduled for Friday, is intended as a tune-up bout for Fury ahead of a potential future contest against Anthony Joshua.
Fury registered a weight of 18st 13lb (120kg), which is 26lb lighter than Wach’s 20st 11lb (132kg). This marks only the fourth time in Fury’s professional career, spanning over 17 years and 38 fights, that he has weighed less than his opponent. His previous lighter weigh-in was against Derek Chisora in 2011, and before that, against John McDermott and Daniil Peretyatko.
The 37-year-old Fury was also 3lb lighter than he was for his last fight in April against Arslanbek Makhmudov. During the face-off, Fury, wearing a designer robe and a large cross chain, engaged in light-hearted interaction with Wach before they posed for photographs.
The Thailand Bout
The fight will take place in Pattaya, Thailand, in front of approximately 1,500 fans. Notably, there will be no television broadcaster for the event. Fury expressed his enthusiasm for the unique setting, stating, “I’m delighted to be here and there are fans here from all over the world.” He also mentioned the unusual experience of being the first fight on the card, likening the atmosphere to a kickboxer movie.
The decision to hold the fight in Thailand stems from Fury’s training base in the country. He aims to give back to the local community by hosting the fight at the Max Muay Thai Stadium and donating ticket profits to local charities. He is also set to receive the inaugural WBC Humanitarian title on fight night. Staying in Thailand also offers logistical advantages, eliminating the need for long-haul travel.
The bout is considered a low-risk, low-key preparation for Fury. Promoters have indicated that a defeat for either Fury or Joshua in their warm-up fights could jeopardise their highly anticipated showdown. Wach, despite his record of 39-13 (20 KOs) from 52 fights, including recent losses, is seen as a credible and durable opponent who provides the necessary challenge without excessive risk.
Future Prospects
Wach has experienced a challenging period, losing seven of his last 10 fights, including a knockout defeat to Moses Itauma two years ago. Despite this, he is expected to provide a suitable test for Fury. A victory for Fury in this fight is anticipated to pave the way for the long-awaited fight with Anthony Joshua, who is also scheduled for a warm-up bout against Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
Fury has expressed his desire to remain active, stating, “I want to keep busy. I’m not banking on any fight that may or may not happen.” He added, “This is the year I want Tyson Fury to stay busy. I may even have 10 fights this year.” The fight against Wach is scheduled for around 10pm local time (4pm UK) on Friday.
While the fight will not be broadcast live, footage of the Wach bout is expected to be featured in the third season of Fury’s Netflix series, At Home with the Furys. This arrangement is anticipated to help recoup some of the financial shortfall from the lack of live broadcast revenue, as Fury is expected to receive a smaller purse than usual.
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Source: bbc.co.uk