Heavyweight boxing has known some outrageous characters down the years with Tyson Fury the latest to join a list topped by the like of Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson.

Fury, the gypsy from England, is a gawky fighter who uses his massive size – he’s 2,06m tall and 112kg – and unorthodox boxing to overwhelm opponents. But while he’s unbeaten in 24 fights, having outlasted a host of no-hopers and tomato cans, it isn’t his boxing that has drawn attention.

Fury is a one-man PR machine. When he’s on form he can make Don King seem like a shrinking violet.

Fury has had a full tonk at Klitschko, labelling him old and boring. He’s threatened to tear him to pieces and even burst into song at an open workout this week.

For a media conference in September, he arrived in a Lamborghini dressed as Batman.

Fury plays up to the role of provocateur perfectly. He knows he’s the B-side in the fight and his role is to drum up excitement for a bout that has already sold 54 000 tickets in Germany.

(The action will be broadcast live on SuperSport 6 from 9.30pm on Saturday).

Fury has a filthy mouth on him and has told anyone in earshot how he intends humiliating the long-time champion.

The truth is he doesn’t stand a chance. Fury is awkwardness packaged as a fighter, his two left feet making him easy pickings for a fighter of Klitschko’s strength and skill.

The Ukrainian is no wizard with regard to movement, but he’s a concussive hitter and he exposes faultlines in his opposition with brutal conviction. The champion is unbeaten in 11 years, his 18 defences putting him in the realm of great champions like Joe Louis and Larry Holmes.

Klitschko always gets the job done, but you could never accuse him of being over-exciting or a risk-taker. He’s all business, which explains the public’s ambivalence.

That said, I’m all-in for this weekend’s fight. Klitschko is a classy guy who carries himself with a majesty few fighters can match.

I’m expecting he knocks Fury’s head off.

Bet on it.