Tyson Fury vs. Wladimir Klitschko Rematch: Klitschko Believes Fury's Home Crowd Will 'Fuel Him To Victory'
Former world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko likes his chances in his rematch against current title-holder Tyson Fury.
Fury defeated "Dr. Steelhammer" when they fought for the first time last November in Dusseldorf, Germany. Not only did Klitschko lose the WBO, WBA, IBO, and IBF world titles, he also had his nine-year title reign ended, and his 11-year undefeated streak suddenly cut.
Klitschko now has a shot at redemption after the recently stipulated rematch was scheduled to take place on July 9th, at the 21,000-seater Manchester Arena in Fury's hometown of Manchester in England.
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The undefeated Fury clearly holds the hometown advantage over the Ukrainian heavyweight great, but this fact does not seem to bother Klitschko. In a report by Vadim Pushkin for Boxingscene, the 42-year old boxer says he even embraces the idea of fighting in front of a frenzied Manchester crowd.
"That fact that we will fight in Manchester, it did not matter to me," Klitschko said. "If the venue is against me, that will motivate me even more to achieve success. The hotter tha atmosphere - the better. I'm looking forward to the heat."
Right after the fight, the Klitschko camp immediately decided to exercise the rematch clause that was talked about during pre-fight negotiations. But for Fury, the loss that Klitschko just experienced may have a deeper effect on him, that what is perceived.
In a report by Richard Amofa for the Telegraph, Fury claims Klitschko might have "lost on purpose."
"He knows I was contracted in and couldn't fight anyone else," Fury said. "If I retire and don't fight him he gets the belts back anyway. If he beats me, then he becomes a four-time heavyweight champion."
"He's already lost, it's not like Calzaghe who was undefeated, and the zero meant a lot, it doesn't mean anything – he's a businessman," he added.
The 27-year old Fury currently banners an unblemished win-loss slate of 25-0, with 18 victories by knockout. Klitschko, on the other hand, holds a record of 64-4, with 53 wins by knockout.
