Tyson Fury's kickboxing career should be over before it has a chance to begin.
His previous plan to fight in a new discipline one month after he was originally due to fight David Haye—September 28—is now in ruins. That's how it should remain if he wants a legitimate shot at Wladimir Klitschko.
His promoter, Mick Hennessy, is seemingly of the same opinion. Speaking to Sky Sports, Hennessy sought to quell the talk of kickboxing and get back to Fury's day job:
At some point in his career... he might take a look at [kickboxing]. But right now that's not an option. He's got to win this fight in style and he's got to take the Klitschkos out, so he's got a hell of a lot do in boxing before anything like that.
Fury has been particularly dismissive of his fight with Haye, looking past his British rival as if the fight is already won. He's continued the talk after Haye pulled out, telling Sky Sports that his opponent was likely to renege on the next date, too.
While it's true that Haye has a history of excuses, he remains a dangerous opponent. He stalked Dereck Chisora across five rounds before knocking him out, as well as absorbing a couple of big cheap shots from his opponent as the bell sounded at the end of the third round.
Fury, of course, beat Chisora himself in 2011, although the fight went the full 12 rounds. Frank Warren has spoken to the Daily Star of his desire to pit Chisora against Fury again before the end of the year, but Fury should narrow his focus and ignore the talk.
If Fury is to beat Haye, he has to grant him some respect. We expect the war of words ahead of a fight like this, but Fury now has until February 8 to focus on his boxing.
He has to ensure that he's in the best shape of his life and fully prepared. A fight between now and then might keep his eye in, but a loss would derail his bid for a fight with either Wladimir or Vitali Klitschko and devalue the Haye fight in the process.
Haye has only fought twice since 2010, so Fury already has the edge there. However, Fury was knocked down by Steve Cunningham earlier this year, and Haye will be confident he can go a step further.
This is the biggest fight of Fury's career, and he has to treat it as such. Talk of kickboxing and using Haye as nothing but a path to bigger fights is good for the press, but none of these things will happen with a poor performance in February.
Fury has to show that he can beat anyone with his hands before adding his legs to his armoury. He hasn't done that yet, so would be wise to keep his focus on his current sport.
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