Fury pose is intended for an audience of one

By Norm Frauenheim-

The before-and-after photos are astonishing. The physical transformation of Tyson Fury continues. A couple of years ago, he made Andy Ruiz Jr. look skinny.

Now, he might be making Deontay Wilder nervous.

Come to think of it, that might be the reason for the photo of Fury looking fit and fight-ready for the heavyweight rematch Feb. 22 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand. In an Instagram post this week, Fury poses with arms crossed and eyes focused directly into the camera and straight into Wilder’s eyes. 

It’s a pose intended for an audience of one.

A month ago, Fury predicted he would knock out Wilder in two rounds. Wilder laughed. So, too, did the media. Why would Fury even think about trying to counter Wilder’s singular power with power he has yet to deliver?

Tyson’s clever skillset had him ahead through eight rounds of their first bout in December 2018 at Los Angeles Staples Center. Then, he got knocked down, first in the ninth round and again in the twelfth. It ended in a controversial draw. Without the knockdowns, it’s a one-sided decision for Fury. So why-oh-why wouldn’t he just make a simple adjustment: Stay away for the full 12 rounds in the sequel.

Conventional wisdom dictates that’s what he – in fact — will do. But the Instagram pose is there, suggesting that Fury has done the work he needs to have any chance at a stoppage in any round, much less the second.

Fury says he is at his optimum weight now. He’s at 270 pounds, which he says will be his weight at opening bell. He was at 256 ½ in the first fight. Thirteen-and-half more pounds suggest he’s attempting to put some additional force behind his punches. He jumped from trainer Ben Davison to SugarHill Steward, a Kronk student of the late Emanuel Steward’s power-punching philosophy. The idea, Fury said, is to augment whatever power he might possess with technique, practice-practice-practice and a few more pounds.

Will it work? Probably not. In big fights – and this rematch is as big as it gets – fighters become who they have always been. Fury, who calls himself a student of the game, knows that. In the first couple of rounds, however, he might do something unexpected in an early attempt to confuse Wilder.

He’s doing that now. Fury-being-Fury means lots of talk, head fakes and moves calculated to distract, enrage and entertain.

He says he’ll win within two. He says he toughens up his hands by dipping them in gasoline every day. He’s on fire. Maybe, Wilder is listening, but don’t expect him to call 911.

Fury sticks out his tongue. He rolls his eyes in clownish disbelief. He’s joking. Maybe, Wilder is laughing.

This week, Fury poses. It’s a good photo-op, another app in the psychological game. Maybe, Wilder is watching. But who’s winning? That’s a maybe, too, despite the promises, photos, posts, predictions, pounds and poses.