Keys to Victory: Where will Tyson Fury vs. Mariusz Wach be decided?

After pummeling Arslanbek Makhmudov in April, Tyson Fury immediately called out Anthony Joshua for a fight.

However, when Joshua responded by organizing a fight with Kristian Prenga on July 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, live on DAZN PPV, Fury retorted by sneaking in a tune-up bout of his own against Mariusz Wach on July 24 in Thailand. Fury and AJ are then slated to have their mega bout this November.

Fury (35-2-1, 24 KOs) shed some of his ring rust enough to deliver a lopsided unanimous decision over Makhmudov in London three months ago, declaring his return to boxing. In trying to further his preparation toward clashing with AJ, the former heavyweight world champion faces a 46-year-old Wach (39-13, 20 KOs), who last lost via unanimous decision to Viktor Vykhryst in March. The veteran has faced the likes of Moses Itauma, Frazer Clarke, Makhmudov, Dillian Whyte, and Wladimir Klitschko across his career, but wasn’t able to defeat any of them.

Will Fury prove this challenge to be low-risk with a dominating victory over Wach? Or will the Polish fighter offer ‘The Gypsy King’ more resistance than Fury anticipates? DAZN News analyzes the Keys to Victory for both heavyweights of their bout.

Tyson Fury’s Keys to Victory

Keep Wach at the end of the jab

Mariusz Wach is one of the few heavyweights who nearly measures up to Tyson Fury’s massive dimensions. Even then, ‘The Gypsy King’ owns a three-inch reach advantage over the Polish fighter. Considering how other high-profile heavyweights have given Wach trouble with the jab, the onus is on Fury to keep ‘The Viking’ at the end of the stick with the weapon.

Fury can use the jab as a setup punch and front end to a combination. Or he could load up and deliver it as a power jab. Either method will affect Wach.

Get the rounds needed, but don’t mess around

A 46-year-old Wach doesn’t exactly scream a dangerous threat … unless Fury allows him to be. Therefore, it is imperative for Fury to get the rounds he deems necessary in this tune-up fight, but he shouldn’t play around with his food. If and when Fury sees the opening to finish this fight, he must take it.

Mash the gas pedal

Though Fury is a step slower at 37, the former heavyweight champion of the world still has the ability to step on the gas and unload a barrage of punches with deceptive hand speed. Wach, nine years Fury’s senior, doesn’t handle hand speed well. Fury cranking up the volume should be enough to overwhelm Wach.

When Anthony Joshua announced his fight against Kristian Prenga on Saturday, Fury made it a point to have this tune-up against Wach during the same weekend but a day before. Emphatically disposing of Wach on Friday will put the pressure and spotlight on Joshua to deliver an emphatic result against Prenga on Saturday.

Mariusz Wach’s Keys to Victory

Get inside of Fury’s jab behind higher guard

A three-inch reach deficit doesn’t sound like much, but Mariusz Wach can feel every bit of it courtesy of Tyson Fury’s sharp accuracy and power with the jab. Therefore, Wach must get inside of the jab and grind the fight down to a slower pace that behooves him more. That said, the Polish fighter will not give himself a chance to do this if he doesn't show a high, tight guard. Far too often, Wach drops his guard to chest level. He needs to have his gloves higher and ready to parry Fury's jab.

Unload the right hand

It was nearly 14 years ago, but there was a moment in the Wladimir Klitschko vs. Wach bout where the Polish fighter rattled the unified heavyweight world champion with a flush right hand. He ought to unleash the weapon onto Fury too. His ability to time the shot, possibly serving it as a counterpunch, could be just what’s needed to shock ‘The Gypsy King’ and if landed cleanly, the boxing world.

Let hands go, but with exercised caution

In the twilight of his career — with nothing to lose and everything to gain — Wach should look to let his hands go, but with education.  Getting reckless against a sharpshooter like Fury could get him knocked out. But Wach, at 46, must be aggressive in producing a high enough output that allows him to compete with one of the best boxing’s glamour division has ever seen.

Who has the edge in Fury vs. Wach?

Analysis: DAZN News’ Mark Lelinwalla

Fury shouldn’t have any problems in this fight unless they’re self-imposed in the form of lack of conditioning or egregiously feeding into being a showman and the entertainment quality of his unique style.

Truth be told — even then, Fury should dominate. That said, with one of the biggest fights in boxing history hanging in the balance, I only see Fury dominating his way through Wach to usher in what should be a momentous build toward him finally facing Anthony Joshua.

Joshua vs. Prenga - exclusively on DAZN PPV

Watch Anthony Joshua versus Kristian Prenga on Saturday, July 25, as part of a huge 24 hours of boxing on DAZN PPV. 

Buy as a one-off PPV or included along with Spence Jr. vs. Tszyu on the same night, and Moses Itauma vs. Hrgovic (Aug 29) and Canelo vs. Mbilli (Oct) PPVs, with a DAZN Ultimate Tier subscription.

For more information, pricing and to buy, click here.