Tyson Fury urged to start taking opponents more seriously by Amir Khan after Otto Wallin cut scare
AMIR KHAN has warned Tyson Fury to take his opponents more seriously after underdog Otto Wallin left him needing 47 stitches.
The Gypsy King, 31, was expected to walk through 12-1 outsider on Saturday night in Las Vegas but a third-round left hook left the ex-champ a bloody mess by the time his unanimous points win was announced.
Former light-welterweight King Khan, who constantly tried to add more defensive skills to his rapid hands, believes Fury might have to lose some of his showmanship if he is to reclaim any of his old heavyweight world titles.
The Ultimate Boxxer 5 ambassador told SunSport: “I have been saying for some time that Tyson is the best heavyweight in the world and he proved that again at the weekend.
“Those cuts, with the blood pouring down into his eye, must have blinded him for so much of the fight. But he showed big balls and a lot of courage and he did his job.
“But it is a worry for the future because there was a lot of damage and he stayed in the fight for a long time.
'BE CAREFUL'
“He will still be the same fighter but he will need to make sure, from now on, that he is never caught with shots like that again.
“He might need to go back to the drawing board to see exactly why he was caught with that shot, there might be changes needed in his camp.”
Fury’s father John has demanded his son sack trainer Ben Davison and beef back up to 19st in time for his targeted 2020 rematch with Deontay Wilder.
But Khan, who never suffered any serious cuts but had to tighten his defence after a shock KO loss to Breidis Prescott in 2008, believes the necessary changes are less drastic.
He said: “Tyson has to be careful that he does not become too comfortable because that is when you start getting caught and hurt.
“His size and skills mean he has been able to dominate a lot of the fighters he has faced and that can lead to complacency.
“Everyone was talking about Otto Wallin like it was a mismatch but then look what happened, he might need to take his opponents more seriously at times.
“I am sure he will not make these mistakes again, I know he takes the sport seriously but I think he has to make sure he doesn’t take any opponents too lightly in future.”
Khan has not boxed since his July win over Billy Dib in Saudi Arabia but he is in talks once again with old enemy Kell Brook.
The plan is for the pair to win tune-up fights in December before finally settling their bitter grudge in the Spring, with or without Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn.
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Khan said: “That’s what I am looking at, a fight in December and then maybe that fight with Kell in March or April, we are in talks.
“I don’t know if it is going to be with Eddie Hearn because I do promote myself as well, there are lots of opportunities.”
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