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The bout is on.
The potential fight between lineal heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko and self-professed "Gypsy King" Tyson Fury is no longer potential. Just before the bout went to a scheduled purse bid, the fighters' promoters, Mick Hennessy and Tom Loeffler, were able to come to an agreement to host the fight in Dusseldorf, Germany on October 24th.
@HennessySports and @TomLoeffler1 reach agreement for #KlitschkoFury, Oct 24th in #Germany @GilberticoWBA #WBAboxing pic.twitter.com/bN2mTMpSik
— WBA (@WBABoxing) July 6, 2015
Klitschko (64-3, 53 KO) has held the IBF world title since 2006, the WBO title since 2008, and the WBA since 2011. The latter came with an uninspiring decision win over English boxer David Haye, who blamed an extremely lackluster performance on a now infamous broken toe. The Ukrainian has compiled a 22-fight win streak since his last defeat in 2004. Most recently, Klitschko defended his titles in an entertaining scrap with American pugilist Bryant Jennings.
Fury (24-0, 18 KO) has compiled an impressive record in his seven-year career--at least as far as modern heavyweight records go. A victory over Derek Chisora has been the highlight so far. Fury soundly outboxed Chisora en route to a lopsided unanimous decision, in a fight that gave the loquacious Traveller a chance to demonstrate his maturity. Where once Fury had seemed incapable of avoiding a war with each and every opponent, he showed a cool, measured approach, and dismantled Chisora with ease.
Interestingly, ESPN's Dan Rafael has reported that the fight will not be shown on Boxnation in the UK.
#KlitschschkoFury will be on HBO in the US, RTL in Germany. Bernd Boente tells me UK TV will be Sky, ITV or BT. In talks. #boxing
— Dan Rafael (@danrafaelespn) July 6, 2015
Both fighters have already taken to Twitter to share their thoughts on the upcoming bout.
Done deal. Just before purse bid began we reached an agreement with the Fury camp. Looking forward to the fight on October 24th @Tyson_Fury
— Klitschko (@Klitschko) July 6, 2015
@klitschko @Tyson_Fury is a done deal 10000% on, big thanks to @HennessySports @peterfury cant wait to fight #nuffsaid more details 2 follow
— Gypsy King (@Tyson_Fury) July 6, 2015
I promise I won't do a @mrdavidhaye & shit my self ill ko this super champ, i dont takl unless i can back it up,
— Gypsy King (@Tyson_Fury) July 6, 2015
Denis, I’m an artist just like you. I specialize in painting faces in the ring - and my next canvas is Tyson Fury. https://t.co/ciJJfSKPdB
— Klitschko (@Klitschko) July 3, 2015
If I can't KTFO a 40ya I need fucking, must be useless, no pressure though, 1000000000% @Klitschko is getting smashed fury
— Gypsy King (@Tyson_Fury) July 6, 2015
Fury even found time to call out American Deontay Wilder, who holds the only major belt not in Klitschko's possession.
@BronzeBomber klitschko fight is a done deal, lets win our next fights & make history togeather, east vs west, then west vs west, boooooooom
— Gypsy King (@Tyson_Fury) July 6, 2015