• Steve Bunce

Tyson not ready to unleash Fury on Klitschko

Tyson Fury is still a year away from being ready to fight Wladimir Klitschko © PA Photos

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Fury insists Firtha represents huge gamble
  
• News: Two Fury fight offers rejected
  
• News: 'Mayweather is best in this era' - Khan
  
• News: Fury confirms Klitschko talks
  
• News: Khan contemplating Peterson fight
  
• News: Khan set to face Morales or Barrios in December
  
• News: Khan keen to beat Bradley before facing Floyd
  
• Profile: Amir Khan | Vitali Klitschko | Wladimir Klitschko

Everyone seems desperate to put Tyson Fury in a fight with Vitali or Wladimir Klitschko, but thankfully Fury knows he's still a good few bouts away from facing one of the Ukrainian brothers.

At the moment he's not ready, and it's obvious he's not ready - down the line it's a great fight, not now. Fury has been in the gym with the Klitschkos, so he's seen them up close and knows enough about them to realise he still has a lot to learn.

Personally, I think he's a year away from being ready. In the meantime he's got some fantastic options available to him, because gone are the days where he's going to hit someone above the navel and they're going to fall over like they've been shot by a sniper. Those nights are over.

There's a fantastically long list of heavyweights out there that can turn Tyson Fury from a good 12-round fighter into a potential world champion by the time of his 20th fight. Right at the top of that list is Martin Rogan, the Belfast taxi driver, and you could really hype up the Irish angle in that one.

Another option is Audley Harrison in a battle that wouldn't teach Fury very much - Harrison doesn't have enough left in the tank to trouble him - but one that could really line his pockets. I don't care what anyone says, Audley is a big name who knows how to sell a fight. He'll end up convincing all of us he's the overwhelming favourite, trust me.

Then, having fought one of those guys, it's on to the Americans, because that's how you build a heavyweight. Frank Bruno and Lennox Lewis grew by fighting faded Americans who had been fringe contenders or actual challengers.

Names that spring to mind for me are David Tua, Eddie Chambers, Samuel Peter and Tony Thompson. Beat one or two of those, get the better of Rogan or Harrison, and he'll be a superstar who's starting to get his body ready for the type of fight he'd have against a Klitschko. It takes time to get a heavyweight ready.

Fury has mentioned Olympic bronze medallist David Price as a possible opponent, and that's a great fight for him. Price has got that amateur victory over Fury and, the way Fury tells the story, Price denied him an Olympic place. That's not quite true - but, hey, let's not let the truth get in the way of a good story. It would also be an excellent fight and with Rogan/Harrison and then the American route he would be ready.

There were a few doubts over Fury's commitment earlier in his career, but I'm nearly 100% convinced by him now. I don't expect him to come out in future and look like a slob. He said to me: "I got up one morning, looked in the mirror and thought: 'British champions don't look like that'."

I think his best weapon as he moves towards a world title fight is the mirror! He keeps looking at it, he'll remind himself of what he should look like.

Is Matthew Hatton the smart option for Amir Khan? © Getty Images

Enlarge

Amir's Brad intentions
Amir Khan is continuing to talk about fighting Timothy Bradley, the WBO light-welterweight champion, later this year - but let's be honest, Bradley doesn't add anything. He brings nothing to the table.

He's not the sort of guy people are clamouring for - while the online community might want to see it, the public don't give a monkeys. No-one in Stockwell has ever demanded to see Tim Bradley fight, and you couldn't even give tickets away to his unification showdown with Devon Alexander earlier this year. Fact.

Lamont Peterson is being mentioned as an opponent, but that doesn't do anything for me either. Lamont Peterson?! If you put him in a line-up, most people wouldn't be able to pick him out. Peterson and Bradley's fans arrive at fights in the same taxi.

If I was Khan, I'd go for a tricky fight and one that would sell - so why not fight a guy who went 12 rounds against Saul Alvarez, the unbeaten Mexican sensation?

Matthew Hatton went from Manchester to Los Angeles, survived 12 rounds with Alvarez at light-middleweight; why doesn't Khan fight him at welterweight? If Hatton was a Mexican or an American it would be a perfectly legitimate fight. Face Hatton, then Kell Brook afterwards. It's not as mad as it sounds.

Maidana's the other one that makes a lot of sense. Perhaps the best option for Amir is a rematch of their war in 2010, and Khan would beat him again - easily this time. Or, simple pay Bradley a fortune and add his belt.

Twelfth Round

Amateur dramatics
The Amateur International Boxing Association has decided that in April 2013 it will launch APB (AIBA Professional Boxing). The guys will be professionals, fight without vests over six, eight and 12 rounds - and they'll fight for proper money in leagues around the world, with unification fights.

But more than that, and this is what's scary, they'll still be allowed to go in the Olympics starting in Rio in 2016. There will be guys in the Olympics who will have fought 12 round fights as part of the APB. It sounds just like the tennis situation.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.