Klitschko vs. Fury: 3 things you need to know
The WBA, WBO, IBF, and IBO heavyweight titles will be on the line Saturday when Wladimir Klitschko and Tyson Fury face off at the Esprit Arena in Germany.
Here are three things you need to know:
A unique challenge for Klitschko
Standing 6-foot-6 with an 81-inch reach, Klitschko is used to towering over opponents and keeping them at a distance with his jab. Fury is three inches taller with an 85-inch reach, which should theoretically neutralize Klitschko's size advantage.
The blueprint for solving the Klitschko puzzle may have been laid out in his last defense against American boxer Bryant Jennings. Jennings used his athleticism to keep Klitschko from finding any kind of rhythm, but couldn't muster the output necessary to seriously threaten the champion, who won decisively.
Unlike Jennings, Fury is effective at short range, so Klitschko's clinch-heavy style shouldn't befuddle him as it has so many previous challengers.
Fury said he plans to embarrass Klitschko, which probably wasn't wise since Klitschko has turned away plenty of boisterous boxers in the past.
The many faces of Fury
Known more widely around these parts as the fiance of film and television star Hayden Panettiere, it's safe to say Klitschko's career has failed to resonate with North American fans. The Ukrainian's one-sided, often ugly title fights are partially to blame, but he also has a level-headed demeanor that rarely draws headlines.
If Fury can pull off the upset Saturday, there'll be no shortage of tasty sound bites.
His unique brand of spirituality has compelled him to make controversial comments on homosexuality, abortion, and pedophilia, and he even went as far as to refer to Klitschko as a devil-worshiper.
One memorable stunt saw him dressing up as Batman to act out a brawl with the Joker in a misguided representation of good versus evil. Or maybe he was just messing with Klitschko's head.
Chasing heavyweight history
A successful title defense will give Klitschko his 19th in a row, the third-longest stretch of consecutive heavyweight defenses behind all-time greats Larry Holmes (20) and Joe Louis (25). Klitschko also has five previous WBO title defenses, putting his overall total at 23, trailing only Louis.
The 39-year-old has said he's inspired by light heavyweight Bernard Hopkins, who won major world titles in his late 40s two years ago. Klitschko could become immortal if he continues at his current pace.