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Wilder vs. Fury Undercard Results: Navarrete, Ananyan, Molina, and Martin Win
By: William Holmes
The MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada was the host site of tonight’s Pay Per View card featuring a heavyweight match between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury.
This was a rare card where two competing promoters, Top Rank Promotions and Premier Boxing Champions, as well two competing networks, Fox and ESPN, partnered together to put on this event.
The first bout on the televised undercard was between Subriel Matias (15-0) and Petros Ananyan (14-2-2) in the featherweight division.
Matias controlled the early rounds with his jab, but was warned a few times with landing low blows. He had a strong pace early on and was landing hard uppercuts in the fifth round that had Ananyan bleeding from the mouth.
Matias had landed 203 punches by the sixth round, but was badly hurt in the seventh rounds from several looping right hands and was given a standing eight count.
Ananyan come on strong in the later rounds and likely won many of them. It was a close fight with Matias dominating the early rounds and Ananyan winning the later rounds.
The judges scored the bout 96-93, 95-94 and 95-94 for Petros Ananyan.
Next bout was between Amir Imam (22-2) and Javier Molina (21-2) in the welterweight division.
Imam pressed the action, and came forward behind his jab early on. He was setting the pace and established ring generalship. Molina was able to land some hard counters, but he wasn’t throwing as many punches as the more active Imam.
Imam landed some good shots on the inside in the fifth round, and had blood coming from the nose of Molina in the seventh round. But Molina was landing the stronger and better counter punches, and his were having a bigger effect than Imam.
Many rounds were close, but by the final round it appeared that Molina was slightly ahead. Imam was unable to catch up to Molina and score a knockdown.
The scores were 79-73, 78-74, 78-74 for Javier Molina
The first fight on the Pay Per View Portion of the card was a super welterweight bout between Daniel Lewis (6-0) and Sebastian Fundora (13-0-1) in the super welterweight division.
Fundora was very tall for a super welterweight, and towered over his opponent at 6’6”. Lewis was able to land some good shots and had blood coming from Fundora’s nose in the second round, but was out landed by the taller and lankier Fundora.
Lewis had some swelling on his face by the fourth round, but didn’t appear to be too worried about the power of Fundora. Lewis looked like he was tiring by the ninth round, but Fundora’s jabs were only landing at a 4% clip at this point.
Lewis needed a knockout in the final round to win, but Fundora’s best round of the night was the last round.
The judges scored it 97-93, 98-92, and 99-91 for Sebastian Fundora.
The next fight was between Emanuel Navarrete (30-1) and Joe Santisima (19-2) for the WBO Super Bantamweight Title.
Navarrete looked like he was two weight classes bigger than Santisima. He used his height and reach to his advantage and was popping Santisima from the outside early on.
By the third round Navarrete was cruising and landed good combinations to the body and head of his opponent.
Santisima landed a decent left hook in the fourth round that caused Navarrete to briefly lose his balance, but Navarrete won the remainder of the round.
Navarrete continued to dominate the middle to late rounds, and looked like he could have maybe stopped his opponent a few times if he stepped on the gas pedal, but he fought a smart and relaxed.
Navarrete unleashed a flurry of combinations in the tenth round and had Santisima on the defensive, but he wasn’t able to knock him down.
Navarrete finally go the finish in the eleventh round when he landed a multitude of unanswered punches and forced the referee to stop the fight.
Emanuel Navarrete wins by TKO at 2:20 of the eleventh round.
The last fight on the undercard was a heavyweight bout between Charles Martin (27-2-1) vs. Gerald Washington (20-3-1).
They started off by feeling each other out and not really taking many risks. Washington was able to land a decent straight right hand near the end of the opening round.
The second and third rounds were slow, but Martin was landing a few good shots. A straight left form Martin got a good reach from the crowd in the fourth round.
Martin knocked Washington down with a left hook right to the chin. Washington was able to get back to his feet before the count of ten, but was still on wobbly legs and the referee stopped the bout.
Charles Martin wins by KO at 1:56 of the sixth round.
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Bob Arum Anticipates Over 2 Million Pay Per View Buys For Wilder vs Fury 2
By: Hans Themistode
For a while now, boxing has been considered a sport on the outside looking in. A minor league player if you will.
Baseball, basketball and football are at the forefront of most sports fans minds. Most viewers of those aforementioned sports can identify the biggest names associated with them in a blink of an eye.
Who won the NBA championship last season? Fans would quickly jump up to say the Toronto Raptors. Who is considered the best baseball player in the game right now? Most would say Mike Trout. Who is believed to be the greatest NFL quarterback of all-time? Tom Brady would most likely be the answer.
The point is, in terms of these various sports, fans know exactly who they are and wouldn’t hesitate in terms of a trivia question.
Yet, in the case of boxing, things just don’t seem to go that way. When posed with a boxing question, most fans would have a hard time answering it. In short, boxing has seemingly taken a backseat to its more well known rivals.
It hasn’t always been like this. Knowing who the Heavyweight champion of the world or any other notable boxer was, regardless of his championship status was always thought to be an easy question to answer. Not anymore.
Other sports leagues around the world have seemingly passed boxing by.
But things are about to change.
This Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas Nevada, WBC Heavyweight titlist Deontay Wilder and Lineal champion Tyson Fury will bring boxing back to the forefront. Not just in America, but around the world.
“People are talking about this fight all over the country,” said promoter Bob Arum. “And one of the big topics is how ESPN and FOX are promoting it. … Nobody’s ever seen anything like it. I mean, I’ve been around since the first Super Bowl. There’s never been a commercial for a boxing match in any Super Bowl – ever.”
Simply put, you can’t turn on your television set, nor browse the internet without some sort of ad promoting what many believe, is the biggest Heavyweight championship fight in the last 50 years.
So why exactly is the buzz surrounding this fight so enormous? That’s easy.
Wilder (42-0-1, 41 KOs) has the sort of power that you just can’t teach. Whatever he touches, seems to break into a pile of dust. Fury (29-0-1, 20 KOs) on the other hand, possesses some of the very best boxing skills that the division has ever seen. Another enticing storyline is what happened the first time these two met.
It was December 1st, 2018, in front of a packed crowd at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California where Wilder and Fury met for the first time. Fury boxed circles around Wilder for much of the contest and was on his way to a clear decision. Yet, out of nowhere, Wilder landed his best shots of the night and dropped Fury in the final round. Still, even as the fight seemed to be over, Fury managed to make it back to his feet.
What resulted was a highly disputed draw. Now with them doing it again and with the backing of both ESPN and FOX, promoter Bob Arum is expecting the rematch to be one of the highest selling pay-per-views of all-time.
“I really believed when I found out early on, before we even had an announcement, how FOX and ESPN were gonna do this, that’s why I predicted two million,” Arum explained. “Now to predict two million, if this was back in the old HBO and Showtime days, that would’ve been crazy. But because of those two networks, I always thought we had a shot to equal or exceed two million buys. And I’m now, more than ever, confident.”
Only four times in boxing history has an event exceeded that many buys. And each time they had one thing, or one person, in common.
2007: Floyd Mayweather vs Oscar De La Hoya (2.4 Million)
2013: Floyd Mayweather vs Canelo Alvarez (2.2 Million)
2015: Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao (4.6 Million)
2017: Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor (4.3 Million)
No, Floyd Mayweather won’t be making an appearance on this card. But he is likely to be in attendance to watch. Nevertheless with the sort of attention and promotion that this event has gotten, Arum could very well be right about his initial assumption.
“Am I anxious about how it’s gonna do? Of course. I’m a businessperson. But I’m saying all the groundwork has been so great, thanks to these two networks and the example that they showed.”
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Boxing Insider Notebook: Wilder vs. Fury Edition
Compiled By: William Holmes
The following is special edition of the Boxing Insider notebook for the upcoming Tyson Fury vs. Deontay Wilder Pay Per View Rematch that take place on Saturday night.
Wilder vs. Fury II Undercard Media Workout Photos
Fighters competing on the Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury II undercard this Saturday, February 22 took part in a media workout Wednesday as they near their respective showdowns at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The workout featured fighters competing in the PPV undercard, including former heavyweight champion Charles Martin and former title challenger Gerald Washington, who meet in the co-main event, WBO Junior Featherweight World Champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete, a.k.a. “The Mexican Iron Man”, and Filipino contender Jeo Santisima, who battle in the PPV featured bout, and unbeaten super welterweights Sebastian Fundora and Daniel Lewis, who fight in the PPV opener at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
Also showing off their skills Wednesday were fighters who enter the ring for Wilder vs. Fury II Prelims beginning at at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT, including hard-hitting unbeaten contender Subriel Matias, who battles Petros Ananyan in a super lightweight showdown, plus contenders Amir Imam and Javier Molina, who will fight in a super lightweight attraction.
Prelims will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT on FS1, ESPNEWS and in Spanish on FOX Deportes and ESPN3. ESPNEWS’ coverage will switch to ESPN at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
Fury vs. Wilder 2 Officials Announced
Since the last fight was close and ended in a draw, it was important for the Nevada State Athletic Commission to pick officials and judges with experience that can handle a big time fight such as this one.
At the most recent NSAC hearing, the judges assigned for Wilder vs. Fury are Steve Weisfeld, Glen Feldman, and Dave Moretti.
The referee assigned will be Kenny Bayless.
Deontay Wilder Announces First “Fight for Peace” Under Pontifex Scholas Ocurrentes
World Boxing Council Heavyweight Champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder is pleased to announce that his rematch with Tyson “The Gypsy King” Fury headlining the historic, mega PPV event this Saturday, Feb. 22 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena will be his first “Fight for Peace” under Pontifex Foundation Scholas Ocurrentes.
Wilder has authorized his company BombZquad Promotions and co-promoter TGB Promotions to donate $1 of each Wilder vs. Fury II ticket sold to be donated to Scholas Ocurentes.
“It’s an honor to be appointed by Pope Francis as boxing’s Peace Ambassador,” said Wilder. “I’m excited that Wilder vs. Fury II will be the first boxing match under the program and I’m happy to be able to touch the lives of so many people around the world as the WBC heavyweight champion. I want to use my position to have a positive influence on the lives of people and especially children because they represent the best the future has to offer.”
Scholas Ocurrentes is a non-religious foundation, which was created by Pope Francis (Jorge Bergolio) while he was serving as archbishop of Argentina 30 years ago. The primary goal of Scholas Ocurrentes is to promote educational programs for children through art, sports and technology, while building bridges for peace through inclusion and integration.
Pope Francis named Wilder the Ambassador For World Peace Through Sports during a private audience at the Vatican in Rome on Dec. 13, 2019.
The WBC has the honor of being in charge of the boxing program under Scholas through its BoxVal (Boxing with Values) Program, which uses boxing to highlight the importance of fair play and brotherhood.
The “Fight For Peace” program is a call to action for all members of the worldwide boxing community to join Scholas and Pope Francis in their humanitarian efforts. All are welcomed to join.
Imagination Park Sponsors Legendary Boxing and MMA Cutman Stitch Duran for Wilder vs. Fury 2
Imagination Park Technologies Inc. (CSE: IP) (OTC: IPNFF) proudly announced it has signed on as a Sponsor of the legendary boxing, UFC (MMA), and Bare Knuckles Fighting Cutman Jacob “Stitch” Duran, who will be working in Tyson Fury’s corner, for one of the most anticipated rematches in recent boxing history. The Championship Fight will be hosted at the sold-out MGM Arena on February 22,2020 and broadcast to millions worldwide on TV and PPV.
“Imagination Park is absolutely thrilled to be a part of this historic rematch represented by Stitch in Tyson Fury’s Corner,” said Alen Paul Silverrstieen, CEO & President. “We are the first-ever Augmented Reality company to be represented at such a historic sports event by a legend in both boxing and UFC for decades. Millions of sports fans worldwide will see our ImagineARTM logo and website on Stitches vest in the ring.”
For this event, Imagination Park has created a FREE limited-edition Stitch Duran AR Model which boxing fans worldwide can place in their living room or bar starting today thru the end of February!
1) Download ImagineAR mobile app from the IOS or Android App Store.
2) Launch ImagineAR & select the top menu choice “AR Near Me”.
3) Select one of the three AR Nearby! on the bottom of the screen.
4) Place Stitch model with the white guide lines on any flat surface & Tap Stitch to place him. The closer to you, the bigger he will appear.
5) Take a picture with Stitch and instantly share in social media (Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook) with the hashtag #StitchWithMe. Imagination Park will be giving away a Stitch Prize Package to the best Stitch AR Picture shared in social media.
Prayer Cloud Productions executive team of Cody Cohen, Chelsea Sweeney, and David Pahler brokered this sponsorship.
Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury Make Grand Arrivals at MGM Grand
WBC heavyweight world champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder and lineal heavyweight champion Tyson “The Gypsy King” Fury made their grand arrivals Tuesday afternoon at MGM Grand, kicking off fight week events for the most anticipated heavyweight showdown in two decades.
Fury (29-0-1, 20 KOs) rolled up in a red Ferrari, while Wilder (42-0-1, 41 KOs) arrived shortly after in a Rolls-Royce SUV, both greeted by throngs of fans awaiting Saturday’s clash.
They will renew their rivalry this Saturday, February 22, in a historic mega PPV event from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Wilder has defended his world title successfully 10 consecutive times, while Fury is unbeaten in five bouts since returning from a nearly three-year layoff in June 2018.
The grand arrivals also featured fighters competing in the PPV undercard squaring off, including former heavyweight champion Charles Martin and former title challenger Gerald Washington, who meet in the co-main event, WBO Junior Featherweight World Champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete, a.k.a. “The Mexican Iron Man”, and Filipino contender Jeo Santisima, who battle in the PPV featured bout, and unbeaten super welterweights Sebastian Fundora and Daniel Lewis, who fight in the PPV opener at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
This is what the main event fighters had to say Tuesday:
DEONTAY WILDER
“The first fight was great, but the second time around we’re getting even more love. It’s been a blessed feeling and I’m so excited to show my greatness come Saturday night.”
“I’m going to knock out Tyson Fury in devastating fashion on Saturday night. After I show the world what greatness lies inside of me, I will continue to go even further and do more amazing things in this sport.”
“We all know that boxing is the hurt business and we both have bad intentions coming into this fight. I’m looking forward to our energies colliding and having an amazing fight.”
TYSON FURY
“Las Vegas is the home of champions, and ‘The Gypsy King’ is here to put on a show. I am knocking that bum out in two rounds. It’s going to be an early night.”
“I’ve done all I can, and I can’t wait for Saturday night to be here. The WBC belt is the only major title I’ve yet to win. Saturday night, it will be mine.”
“Las Vegas is the new home of ‘The Gypsy King.’ This is my time. Wilder got a gift last time. That won’t happen again. I’m coming for the knockout.”
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False Bravado from the Gypsy King?
By: Kirk Jackson
Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (42-0-1, 41 KO’s) meets “The Gypsy King” Tyson Fury (29-0-1, 20 KO’s) on Feb. 22 in a highly anticipated heavyweight showdown at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas as part of an first-time Fox and ESPN pay-per-view promotion. The two met in the ring once before to a highly disputed draw in 2018 and finally after a little over a year in waiting, the rematch is upon us.
There’s has been a bunch of build-up from both ESPN, Fox, BTSport Boxing, BBC, Sky Sports, Top Rank and Premier Boxing Champions. Both Wilder and Fury for that matter, have talked the talk, making this highly anticipated rematch must see for even the most casual of observers.
Olympian and former multiple-time light heavyweight world champion Antonio Tarver, believes 2020 will be a big year forthe heavyweight division and the Wilder vs. Fury rematch is just the start.
“Now the heavyweight division is on fire bruh. The things that AJ (Anthony Joshua), the things that Wilder and Fury have been doing to really separate themselves as the best – I think that this can possibly be one of the biggest eras of heavyweight boxing when finally the smoke clears and you got one man standing on top,” said Tarver. “Man I think there is going to be some really good interesting stories, some saga and a lot of things going on to get us there. I am just glad that in 2020 it looks like we will finally have an undisputed champion when all the smoke clears. I am excited. Tyson Fury is a beast. Wilder is a beast and AJ is right there.”
As stated earlier regarding the Wilder-Fury rematch, Fury exudes the impression full throttle confidence heading into the biggest fight of his career.
“I look at Wilder and I don’t see a tough fight. I see a long-legged p-ssy that I’m going to break in. A big 6 feet 7 inchesvirgin that ain’t been rodded before. I’m going to bend him over and scuttle him backwards nice and slowly. I will break him in. I am going to give him his first loss. That’s what I’m going to do to Deontay Wilder,” Fury told UK outlet INews.
“The Gypsy King is going to dethrone him, rip his heart out and feed it to him. It’s Las Vegas. I want to put on a show. Wilder is not going to beat me. His power is not going to hurt me. I want a knockout this time. I’d prefer to go down swinging than outbox him and not get the decision.”
“I’m going to make it so that I’m in control and I take it out of anybody’s hands. I’ll step him up until he can’t go anymore, until he is going to quit or he is knocked out.”
Big, bold words from the “Furious One.” Wilder’s general response to Fury regarding his trash talk and mental warfare is the approach that works for Wilder and keeps him in the proper state leading up to this mega fight. “The Bronze Bomber” said that with this being the second go-round with Fury, he’s not believing a single word the impulsive and at time volatile British boxer is saying.
“He’s (Fury) very nervous. He can’t even stand still. He can’t even talk during the press conferences,” said Wilder. “What else is he going to say? We’ve been hearing his s— over and over again. The fight will be interesting though. He’s a great fighter, we’ll give him that. This is the biggest heavyweight fight in the world.”
“He beat Wladimir Klitschko, but never defended the belt because he was playing with his nose [doing drugs]. Nobody really talks about it though,” said Wilder.
“Every time I talk or say something, when I say I want to put a body on my record and kill a man, that s*** just goes all over. But when these guys are [shooting steroids], I’m the only one getting bad mouthed. My name is being dragged in the dirt. It’s not fair. These are the things that I’m talking about. And people don’t want to talk about race. They don’t want to talk about that s***. They want that to die, know what I’m saying? Why am I still talking about it? Because ain’t s*** getting done about it. Now I have a position, and I’m going to keep it. I see it all. I’m a strong-minded person. I have to be.”
It appears Wilder is the more serious of the two; giving off the impression of strict business with his serious demeanor in comparison to Fury.
For many observers and the contingent of Fury fans no matter how venomous the words released from Fury’s tongue are, there is a comedic element to what he says.
Fury’s recent barrage of insults hurled towards Wilder:
“People go on about his knockout power and him being the biggest puncher in heavyweight history, but it’s who you’ve fought that counts”
“Let’s not make any mistakes here, Deontay Wilder has fought 35 stiffs. Honestly, over here in America they call his level of opposition tomato cans.”
“He has only had probably seven competitive fights, where people have actually tried to fight back.”
“The rest were duck-egg dummies, only there to fall over.”
“I’ve always been in fights that I could lose, that’s the difference between me and Wilder. “Over here fighters get built to 20-0 by beating opponents who don’t fight back.”
“Wilder’s KO power and ratio is padded. If you are fighting and knocking out real opposition, that would impress me.”
“But I look at Wilder’s resume and he has fought a few former football players, a few has-beens and a load of bums.”
“The only good man he’s ever faced was me and I beat him after three years out when I was as weak as a robin at 17st 11oz with two shoulders on me like coat hangers, and he still couldn’t beat me.”
Is this brash talk from Fury a measure of gamesmanship or another level of deception? As Wilder alluded to, Fury could be talking the talk and not necessarily be walking the walk.Because there are weak points to dissect and pick apart while analyzing Fury’s rants.
It’d be hard pressed to see Fury’s statements about Wilder’s list of opposition and not balk at “The Gypsy King’s” opponent selection over the past 10 fights or so. No disrespect intended, but Otto Wallin, Sefer Seferi, Tom Schwarz, Francesco Pianeta, Christian Hammer, do not scream “Murderer’s Row.”
The only world level guys Fury faced were Wilder, in which resulted in a draw and against an aging, 39-year-old Wladimir Klitschko. Not that Klitschko was a bad fighter at the time, because he was still champion and still capable.
Speaking of Klitschko, who believes Fury has a great chance of winning, questions the mental health of Fury heading into this rematch. With Fury speaking about retirement, possibly joining the WWE and UFC in recent months, re-upping on coke upon victory this weekend, it’s easy questioning Fury’s mental state.
Regarding back to Fury’s resume, it can be picked apart and critiqued. Especially if we apply the same logic and argumentscomparatively to Wilder and his parallel fights against an older Luis Ortiz – who looked sharper and more youthful in contrastto Klitschko.
Leading up to the rematch and even immediately post fight of their first encounter, a slew of excuses have sprouted from various media outlets, fans and others from Fury’s camp.
Wilder believes all of these changes and recent antics by Fury are being done to create post-fight excuses when he loses the rematch.
Heading into the rematch however, is all this talk false bravadofrom Fury? Because if the fight was clearly won, why is there a need to announce an excuse? That question can be posed to both sides. The first fight was a close encounter, which is what resulted as a draw.
There was not a clear-cut victor. This is why Wilder and Fury are meeting yet again to find out who is the better man inside the ring. But harping back on this bravado and boasting from Fury, if the fight was easily won according to Fury, why the switch in trainers? Why not the immediate rematch? Did the concussion suffered against Wilder affect the decision?
Does changing trainers in this instance, with such a “Dominant win” suggest a lack of confidence from Fury’s corner?
“A lot of stuff that he’s doing is making me feel like he’s setting up an excuse for when he loses. The weight thing – I don’t wanna hear nothing about being out of shape or, ‘He didn’t have enough time to get in shape.’ All these trainers around – I don’t wanna hear when I knock him out that, ‘If he had Ben it would’ve been better.’ I don’t wanna hear no excuses. I already feel like all this stuff that’s going on is going to be bent around as excuses. We’ll see what happens,” Wilder told Tha BoxingVoice, according to The Mirror.
“I don’t think there’ll be a difference with Steward (Fury’s new trainer). It’s similarities to the Dominic Breazeale camp when they added Virgil Hunter. When you have bad habits, it’s hard to correct. Sometimes it takes years to correct bad habits. And it takes even longer when you ain’t used to that, when you ain’t worked with that person.”
The banter from Fury is exactly that. If he believes Wilder to be the clown he designates to be, he will be in for a surprise Saturday night. The switch of trainers, the trash talk, waiting more than a year to rematch Wilder and subsequently fighting two back to back unknown opponents does not necessarily exude the mark of a confident fighter.
Lack of confidence does not mean he cannot win this weekend, but it’s an illustration that even the strongest of combatant, even those gargantuan in size have insecurities.
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Historical Significance of Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury II
By: Kirk Jackson
Feb. 22nd, 2020 marks the date that will live in infamy. The date marks greater interpretation, if not absolute clarification as who the man is at heavyweight.
Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (42-0-1, 41 KO’s) meets “The Furious One,” “The Gypsy King,” Tyson Fury (29-0-1, 20 KO’s) in a highly anticipated heavyweight showdown at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas as part of an unparalleled, historic Fox and ESPN pay-per-view promotion.
As referenced earlier, with the decisive ending the fighters and fans alike are seeking, should come a clear picture of who rules the heavyweight landscape are stakes greater claim or inches closer to stand as the definitive heavyweight in this resurgent era of heavyweight. Arguably the deepest and best the division has been since the 1990s.
Because of the depth, and due to circumstances to where there are still a few different match-ups that need to materialize in order for us to reach our manifest destiny of heavyweight supremacy.
“It’s just people randomly making up stuff,” Fury claims. “I’m not sure how that stuff works. What I do know, when I beat Deontay Wilder, I will be the best heavyweight of my area, standing alone.”
In hindsight, the debatable result from their first encounter convinced the former undisputed heavyweight champion to modify his approach in the 12-round rematch Saturday night at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Fourteen months after their hotly disputed split draw, Fury wants to be on the right side of history against Wilder this second time around.
“The draw played a massive role because it’s made me uncomfortable,” Fury said on a recent conference call. “It made me do things I didn’t wanna do. When we’re taken out of our comfort zone and pressed and pressed and pressed, then we become better. So, it was almost like a blessing in disguise that I didn’t get the decision, because I would’ve kept working on my boxing – boxed, boxed, boxed. You know, I believe I can out-box Deontay Wilder very, very comfortable.”
“But the fact of the matter is, I believe that I out-boxed him comfortable last time. But it’s not good me believing it. The judges have to believe it. And to guarantee victory, I’ve gotta get a knockout because I don’t wanna leave anything unturned this time. I don’t want another controversial decision. I don’t want people to say, ‘Oh, well, he won. No, he won,’ whatever. I want it to be a defining win either way.”
Wilder for his part, is emerging as the definitive heavyweight in this era and aiming towards dominance of this division. He wants to stand as the king, cementing his significance as the best in the division and as the premier fighter of a generation.
“The Bronze Bomber” wants to destroy “The Gypsy King.” Wilder enters the rematch fully confident in his abilities and publicly states he does not believe Fury is as confident as the trash talk suggests.
“I don’t believe a single word Tyson Fury says, except for the fact that you have to nail him down to the canvas to knock him out,” said Wilder. “If he keeps getting up, I’m going to keep knocking him down. He’s going to think twice about the punches, and feel, it’s not even worth getting back up. I’m very confident.”
Some historical tidbits entering this rematch, at 95.3 percent, the WBC champion Wilder has the highest knockout ratio in heavyweight boxing history. His 10 title defenses currently has him tied with Muhammad Ali for the most ever in the sport’s glamour division.
Two-time heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medalist George Foreman refers to the rematch this weekend, as one of the three most anticipated heavyweight rematches ever, behind Max Schmeling vs. Joe Louis II in 1938 and Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier II in 1974.
“There were three important rematches in boxing history,” Foreman told Boxing Scene in a phone interview about the heavyweight division.
“The most important was Max Schmeling and Joe Louis when the whole world was watching. That was the most important rematch of all time. Louis won but the expectation was that he was going to lose again, which made the rematch so interesting. Then Ali-Frazier. I thought nobody could beat Muhammad Ali and then in the first fight Joe Frazier hits Ali with a left hook (in the 15th round) and Ali’s legs went up in the air and when they announced the rematch everyone was on their toes because Frazier had beaten him the first time and Ali was on the comeback trail and it was one of those rematches you knew anybody could win.”
“Wilder had that fight won and we thought he had it won,” Foreman said of the knockdown in the 12th round in which Fury somehow got up from a vicious right-left combination.
“That’s what makes it one of the most important heavyweight rematches in boxing history, because you don’t know who’s going to win. If Tyson does what he did in the first fight; boxing him and not playing around, I think he could easily win a decision. If Wilder decides to come back and can land that right-left hook again, then he can get this guy out in seven or eight rounds. I really don’t know what’s going to happen. I wouldn’t bet on the fight, I’ll tell you that.”
Continuing Foreman’s point of significant heavyweight rematches throughout history, some include:
- Ingemar Johansson vs. Floyd Patterson II
- Muhammad Ali vs. Sonny Liston II
- Joe Louis vs. Jersey Joe Walcott II
- Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield II
- Lennox Lewis vs. Evander Holyfield II
- Gene Tunney vs. Jack Dempsey II
And there’s numerous more to reference throughout boxing’s rich history.
American sports fans and athletes (also fans) appear to be highly aware of the upcoming Wilder-Fury rematch. This event is highlighted with excellent promotion across various platforms, helping generate buzz and anticipation for the historic event taking place this weekend.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the two Wilder-Fury II commercials airing during FOX’s broadcast of Super Bowl LIV were watched by more than 100 million people a piece in the United States. An audience of 103,500,000 saw the first Wilder-Fury rematch promo at 8:02 p.m. ET, slightly more than the 101,100,000 who saw the second commercial at 8:37 p.m. ET.
Nielsen also revealed that 126,500,000 viewers combined watched seven Wilder-Fury II commercials during FOX’s pre-Super Bowl coverage from 12:56 p.m. ET until 6:10 p.m. ET, about 20 minutes prior to kickoff. The last two pre-game promos, airing at 5:50 p.m. ET and 6:10 p.m. ET, were viewed by audiences of 33,400,000 and 49,600,000, respectively.
The promotion behind this fight has been full throttle to say the least. Promotion from networks like ESPN, Fox, BT Sport Boxing, BBC, Sky Sports — in addition to the promotional companies like Top Rank and Premier Boxing Champions helped usher in the hype for this event. Other platforms across social media and various publications have also been beneficial.
And it doesn’t hurt Both Wilder and Fury for that matter, possess magnetic, exciting personalities and have talked the talk, making this highly anticipated rematch must see for even the most casual of observers.
How the fight turns out varies depending on who you ask.
| Manny Pacquiao, WBA Welterweight World Champion Wilder KO 10: “Never bet against a puncher, particularly one like Deontay Wilder. I look at Wilder like I do at a Mike Tyson, another puncher. I see Wilder winning this rematch with Tyson Fury by 10th-round knockout.” Carl Frampton, former two-weight world champion Fury W 12: “I think it’s a very difficult fight to call. Fury won the last one by a mile, but I think Wilder will be more aggressive this time, which may play into Fury’s hands. Wilder can win by KO at any moment, but put a gun to my head, and I’d say Fury on points.” Thomas Hearns, Hall of Famer Wilder W 12: “Deontay Wilder can box and win, but I think that his power will be the difference in defeating Tyson Fury. I believe that it will go to a decision again, but with Deontay Wilder winning it.” |
This historic rematch holds great significance to each champion. For Wilder, the WBC champion since 2015, believes a definitive win against Fury will help make his case once his career comes to a close.
“This fight will only add to my legacy. I consider Fury one of the best of the division. It’s going to be amazing to knock him out and put him on my resume,” said Wilder.
“There is no other fighter than him I’d rather face at this moment in time, and he accepted the challenge. I’m happy to be in this position right now. That’s something in my [people] we miss out on—that l-o-v-e, baby. Ain’t nothing wrong with a little love. Love is the key. We hang together and stick together. We’re all part of one race—the human race.”
While Fury seems content with his place in history – if he is able to defeat Wilder this weekend, it appears Wilder is seeking something more substantial as far as leaving a mark in history. As soon as he hangs up his gloves, Wilder wants to be remembered as be the greatest heavyweight fighter of all time and even perhaps the best ever boxer.
“When I leave boxing, I will be known as the one that was the best ever in the heavyweight division, if not in boxing, period. That’s my goal,” said Wilder. “When I retire, people are going to be upset, because they’re going to want to see more. I try to provide them with a lot of things while I’m here. That’s why I say, ‘give me my roses now. Love me now.’ Because I am the best to have ever done this. I am the hardest hitting puncher in boxing history.”
Lofty expectations and Wilder has some stiff competition to surpass if he ever plans on cracking the all-time great heavyweight conversation. But why not aim high and shoot past the stars? Wilder famously abides by the mentality and mantra of…
“Speak it, believe it, receive it and it shall be yours.” – Deontay Wilder
“You’re witnessing greatness. We all are great. But greatness is only determined by service. I only have six more years left, and when I retire, some people are going to be mad because they won’t get the satisfaction,” said Wilder. “It’s going to be a great fight. It’s unfinished business, it’s one of the biggest fights in the world. We celebrate for 15 minutes, and then we keep on moving.”
Plenty of questions ahead this weekend and the culmination of Saturday will provide many answers. The conversation of legacies and significance can be expanded on once we reach that conclusion. Can’t wait to see what unfolds.
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Deontay Wilder Keys To Victory Against Tyson Fury
By: Hans Themistode
For 42 of Deontay Wilder’s 43 professional fights, he has been able to walk into a contest with the same game plan.
Hit the guy really hard.
It may sound both primal and simplistic, but it’s worked.
Deontay Wilder has arguably the biggest right hand the sport of boxing has ever seen. Simply put, whenever he touches his opponent, they fall. Just take a look at his last contest against Heavyweight contender Luis Ortiz. Wilder allowed the rounds to go by without producing much offense. Ortiz on the other hand, racked up the points. Yet, none of it mattered. The moment Wilder landed his right hand, the fight was over.
Wilder’s seemingly perfect game plan has worked against everyone so far. Well, other than Tyson Fury.
When the two first met back in December of 2018, Wilder threw everything he had at him. What resulted was Fury hitting the canvas not once, but twice. But he managed to get back to his feet and continue to fight.
As we approach their Heavyweight rematch, Wilder may need to dig a bit deeper if he wants to leave the MGM Grand arena with his WBC title still wrapped around his waist.
Keep reading to check out the keys to Wilder pulling off the win this Saturday night.
Throw The Jab
Much of the criticism that is thrown in the direction of Deontay Wilder is a bit unfair. His boxing ability is always scrutinized. Believe it or not, but Wilder is actually a good boxer. He also has a very good jab. He just seldom needs to use it.
For this fight against Tyson Fury, Wilder can’t simply depend on his power. Fury has already shown that he can take his best shot and keep going. Instead of relying on the power shots, Wilder should turn his attention to his jab. Keep the already awkward Fury at bay and keep him guessing. That in turn could and should lead to Wilder being able to land his money shot. The right hand.
Don’t Be Patient
Ironically enough, the reason why Wilder has looked even more devastating as of late is because of his patience. But against a fighter like Tyson Fury, he can’t afford that. Wilder has no problem letting the rounds and seconds tick by during his contests. It’s because he is always in search of the right hand. It isn’t a bad strategy, but it’s downright awful against Fury.
It’s already been established that Fury is the better boxer. If Wilder simply hangs back and allows Fury to build up a lead on the scorecards then he’ll have plenty of issues. For 8 and a half rounds, Fury was able to stay away from Wilder’s money punch. This time around, Wilder needs to throw punches in bunches and try to connect with something early.
Pressure
Tyson Fury might stand at 6 feet 7 inches and weigh roughly 270 pounds, but he isn’t the hardest hitting Heavyweight in the world. Not even close.
During the build up of their contest, Wilder has repeatedly said that Fury has “pillows for fists”. If that’s the case, then Wilder should jump all over him. Walk through the supposed soft hitting Fury and put the pressure on him. Don’t sit back and allow him to simply box. A more pressure based game plan could lead Wilder to a short nights work.
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Deontay Wilder vs Tyson Fury Full Betting Odds
By: Hans Themistode
WBC Heavyweight titlist Deontay Wilder and Lineal champ Tyson Fury is staging one of the biggest fights in the history of boxing this Saturday night. Everyone has an opinion as to how they think it’ll play out. If you’re interested in laying down a bit of money on the winner or if you want to take things a bit further and predict exactly how the contest will end, then you can find the complete odds for the fight below.
For those that are new to the gambling world and need a bit of guidance than look no further.
If you are a firm believer in Deontay Wilder and have decided to lay down some money on him, then a $100 bet will bring you back just over $90 in addition to the $100 you originally laid down in the first place. The same results will occur if you decide to take Fury instead since they both have the same odds. Another draw, although highly unlikely, is extremely profitable. At +2000 odds, a $100 bet will bring you back $2100 total.
Now that you’ve gotten a sense of how sports gambling works, take a look below and see if you like any of the odds for the big fight this Saturday night.
Fight Winner
| Deontay Wilder | -110 |
| Tie | +2000 |
| Tyson Fur | -110 |
How Many Rounds Will The Fight Go?
| Under 2 rounds | +1000 |
| 2 Rounds or more | -5000 |
How Many Rounds Will The Fight Go?
| Less than 4 rounds | +500 |
| 4 Rounds or more | -910 |
How Many Rounds Will The Fight Go?
| Less than 6 rounds | +275 |
| 6 Rounds or more | -400 |
How Many Rounds Will The Fight Go?
| Less than 8 rounds | +150 |
| 8 Rounds or more | -200 |
How Many Rounds Will The Fight Go?
| Less than 10 rounds | +100 |
| 10 Rounds or more | -139 |
How Will Deontay Wilder Win?
| Deontay Wilder Rounds 1-4 | +650 |
| Deontay Wilder Rounds 5-8 | +400 |
| Deontay Wilder Rounds 9-12 | +500 |
| Deontay Wilder On Points | +800 |
How Will Tyson Fury Win?
| Tyson Fury Rounds 1-4 | +1600 |
| Tyson Fury Rounds 5-8 | +1200 |
| Tyson Fury Rounds 9-12 | +1600 |
| Tyson Fury On Points | +150 |
Will The Fight Go The Full 12 Rounds?
| Yes | -110 |
| No | -125 |
Down But Not Out
| Deontay Wilder wins after being knocked down | +900 |
| Tyson Fury wins after being knocked down | +550 |
Gone In 60 Seconds
| Deontay Wilder wins in 60 seconds | +8000 |
| Tyson Fury wins in 60 seconds | +20000 |
Individual Round Betting For Deontay Wilder
| Deontay Wilder in Round 1 | +3300 |
| Deontay Wilder in Round 2 | +2500 |
| Deontay Wilder in Round 3 | +2200 |
| Deontay Wilder in Round 4 | +2000 |
| Deontay Wilder in Round 5 | +1800 |
| Deontay Wilder in Round 6 | +1600 |
| Deontay Wilder in Round 7 | +1400 |
| Deontay Wilder in Round 8 | +1400 |
| Deontay Wilder in Round 9 | +1600 |
| Deontay Wilder in Round 10 | +2000 |
| Deontay Wilder in Round 11 | +2200 |
| Deontay Wilder in Round 12 | +3300 |
Individual Round Betting For Tyson Fury
| Tyson Fury in Round 1 | +8000 |
| Tyson Fury in Round 2 | +5000 |
| Tyson Fury in Round 3 | +5000 |
| Tyson Fury in Round 4 | +5000 |
| Tyson Fury in Round 5 | +4000 |
| Tyson Fury in Round 6 | +4000 |
| Tyson Fury in Round 7 | +4000 |
| Tyson Fury in Round 8 | +4000 |
| Tyson Fury in Round 9 | +4000 |
| Tyson Fury in Round 10 | +5000 |
| Tyson Fury in Round 11 | +6600 |
| Tyson Fury in Round 12 | +6600 |
Final Judgement
| Deontay Wilder by Unanimous Decision | +1400 |
| Deontay Wilder by Split Decision | +1800 |
| Deontay Wilder by Majority Decision | +3300 |
| Tyson Fury by Unanimous Decision | +250 |
| Tyson Fury by Split Decision | +900 |
| Tyson Fury by Majority Decision | +1800 |
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Tyson Fury Keys To Victory Against Deontay Wilder
By: Hans Themistode
It was supposed to be the biggest comeback story in boxing history. At least, that was the feeling of many who watched the first clash between WBC Heavyweight titlist Deontay Wilder and Lineal champ Tyson Fury.
That assumption however, just wasn’t shared by the judges on that December 1st night in 2018. Regardless of the first outcome, there is no need to complain as we all get to see them do it again.
Fury and his adoring fans believe that the blueprint for Wilder has already been laid. Maybe. But Wilder has a tendency to get even better whenever he fights someone for a second time.
If Fury wants to win this contest even more convincingly, then he’ll need to be a lot better the second time around.
Stay On The Outside
For the past year, Fury has had a sour taste in his mouth. He refuses to believe that he hadn’t done enough to earn the victory the first time around. Now that his frustrations are at an all-time high, he no longer wants to leave his fights in the hands of the judges.
His anger is understandable, but in order to win this upcoming Saturday night, he simply needs to do what he did the first time around.
Box.
Wilder has never been known as a great boxer. Fury has even called him a one trick pony for quite some time now. He might be right, but that is still one helluva trick by Wilder. If Fury can simply stay on the outside and box, then there should be no reason as to why the judges won’t give him the decision this time around.
Attack The Body
On an episode of Inside The PBC, former Tyson Fury opponent, Steve Cunningham revealed that when the pair met in 2013, it was the body punching of Fury that really affected him. Too often have we seen Heavyweight fighters become nothing more than headhunters. It could be because fighters like Fury and Wilder are just so tall that they aren’t concerned with good body punching.
With Wilder in particular, his attack is mostly focused upstairs. Fury needs to go to the body to force the WBC champ on the back foot. Wilder is an aggressive fighter by nature. The pressure that he puts on his opponents can be neutralized if Fury can just find a way to attack the mid section. That of course, could leave Fury open to counter shots, but he may have no choice in this one.
Heavy Output
Deontay Wilder might be known as the heaviest hitting boxer of all-time, but he doesn’t exactly overwhelm his opponents in terms of his activity. In his last ring appearance, Wilder closed the show against Luis Ortiz with just one punch. But before that, Wilder was simply getting outworked. Fury should look to implore the same tactics.
Wilder has a tendency to take a more patient approach in his fights recently. Maybe even too patient. This is something that Fury can surely take advantage of. If he can simply overwhelm Wilder with his punch out put, he could force the judges to score the rounds in his favor.
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Boxing Legends Weigh In On Wilder-Fury 2
By: Sean Crose
It’s probably the biggest heavyweight fight since 2002, when the stellar Lennox Lewis bested the washed Mike Tyson in Nashville to assert his absolute dominance over the division. One could wish that Lewis and Tyson had fought when both were in their primes, but no one will ever be able to complain that Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder didn’t get it on at least twice when they were both at their best. For this Saturday night, the second chapter of the Wilder-Fury saga will unfold at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. The first time the two men met, the world was treated to what may well go down as a classic chapter in heavyweight history. Wilder, seemingly behind on points, sent Fury crashing to the mat with a frightening shot in the final round, only to see Fury get up and the bout ultimately declared a draw. Each fighter thought he deserved the win that night back in 2018, which is why this Saturday’s bout should be so interesting – and perhaps why it’s getting so much promotional hype for it’s joint ESPN/FOX pay per view broadcast.
When there’s a bout this big in professional boxing, big names are guaranteed to weigh in. Wilder-Fury 2 is proving to be no exception. “I like Deontay Wilder to win, possibly by knockout,” says all time great Sugar Ray Leonard,” but, in truth, I don’t see either guy being knocked out. I think that Wilder not only has that powerful right hand, but that he has improved in his ability to set it up.” Yet Leonard, famous for thinking things through, sees both sides of the equation. “On the other hand,” he claims, “I know that Tyson Fury has excellent boxing abilities and a tremendous chin from the way that he got up from the two knockdowns in their previous fight. In the end, I think that Wilder is always in shape and that he will use his speed and power to get the job done.”
Thomas Hearns, Leonard’s great rival, also has thoughts on Saturday’s fight. “Deontay Wilder can box and win,” the legendary fighter known as “The Hit Man” says, “but I think that his power will be the difference in defeating Tyson Fury. I believe that it will go to a decision again, but with Deontay Wilder winning it.” Of particular interest leading up to this weekend are the opinions of former heavyweight greats Evander Holyfield and Larry Holmes.
“I’m picking Deontay Wilder,” says Holyfield, “based on his confidence and the fact that he does all of the right things to remain in great shape, and that he’s committed to his craft.” Holyfield also feels Wilder is more crafty than some give the WBC titlist credit for. “Wilder’s not just a big guy with a right hand,” he adds, “but he’s also become more calculated in his approach. That’s why I’m picking him to win this second fight against Tyson Fury.”As for Holmes, one of the greatest heavyweights to lace up a pair of gloves sees the fight with a clarity that perhaps only a seasoned pro can bring to the occasion. “Deontay Wilder will knock out Tyson Fury in the seventh or eighth round,” says the man known as “The Easton Assassin,” when he ruled the heavyweight realm, “if he does what I know that he can do, which is stay on the outside, use his jab, throw that right hand over the jab.”
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Tyson Fury vs. Deontay Wilder, Charles Martin vs. Gerald Washington Fight Previews
By: William Holmes
On Saturday night one of the biggest heavyweight fights since Mike Tyson vs. Lennox Lewis will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada. The MGM Grand Garden Arena will be the host site for this PPV and it will be a joint venture between Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions and Bob Arum’s Top Rank Promotions.
Additionally, broadcast rivals ESPN and Fox will be working together to put on this card. The undercard features some of Top Rank’s and the PBC’s best prospects and fighters on the undercard. Fights on the undercard include Emanuel Navarrete defending his WBO Junior Featherweight Title against Jeo Tupas Santisima, a junior middleweight fight between Subriel Matias and Petros Ananyan, and a welterweight bout between Amir Imam and Javier Molina.
Other boxers on the undercard include Rolando Romero, Gabriel Flors Jr., Vito Mielnicki Jr., and Isaac Lowe.
The co-main event is an IBF Heavyweight Eliminator between Charles Martin and Gerald Washington. Both Martin and Washington will look to keep their names in the mix for another shot at the heavyweight title.
The following is a preview of the co-main event and main event of the night.
Charles Martin (27-2-1) vs. Gerald Washington (20-3-1); Heavyweights
This is a cross roads fight for both Charles Martin and Gerald Washington. Martin previously held one of the heavyweight titles and Washington previously competed for it, and they look to get back into contention with a win on Saturday night. A loss for either of them may spell the end of their chances at a future title shot.
Washington is thirty seven years old, four years older than Charles Martin. Washington will have about a two inch reach advantage and a one inch height advantage on Martin. However, Martin is a southpaw and that might give a boxer with no amateur experience like Washington some problems.
Martin appears to be the harder puncher of the two. Martin has twenty four stoppage victories while Washington has thirteen. Washington also appears to have the weaker chin of the two, he was stopped three times while Martin was only stopped once.
Both boxers have been fairly active. They both fought twice in 2019, once in 2018, and twice in 2017. Washington however went 2-3 in his last five fights.
Some notable names Washington has defeated include Robert Helenius, John Wesley Nofire, Ray Austin, Eddie Chambers, and Nagy Aguilera. His defeats were to Adam Kownacki, Jarrell Miller, and Deontay Wilder.
Washington played college football for USC but has no notable amateur experience to speak on.
Martin has defeated the likes of Daniel Martz, Gregory Corbin, Michael Marrone, Vyacheslav Glazkov, and Raphael Zumbano. His losses were to Anthony Joshua and Adam Kownacki. Martin is a former National PAL Champion and a National Golden Gloves Runner Up.
Washington’s age will be a factor in this fight, and he has a losing record in his last five fights. Martin was able to hang with Adam Kownacki without being stopped, and Kownacki has a stronger punch than Washington.
This should be a fight that Martin walks away the victor.
Tyson Fury (29-0-1) vs. Deontay Wilder (42-0-1); WBC Heavyweight Title
This fight is one of the most anticipated rematches of the century. Deontay Wilder has faced 42 opponents and has stopped every single one of them except for one, and that’s Tyson Fury.
Their first bout was declared a draw, with the score cards being 113-113, 115-111 for Wilder, and 114-112 for Fury. Fury would have won the bout if it wasn’t for the 12th round knockdown by Wilder that Fury got up from at the last second.
Fury will have a two inch height and a two inch reach advantage over Wilder. He’s also three years younger that Wilder, who is nearing the end of his athletic prime at 34 years old. Both boxers fight in an orthodox stance, and both boxers have been fairly active the past two years. Fury fought twice in 2019 and three times in 2018, while Wilder fought twice a year in 2019, 2018, and in 2017.
Fury has twenty stoppages on his resume and isn’t known for his power. He has defeated the likes of Otto Wallin, Tom Schwarz, Francesco Pianeta, Sefer Seferi, Wladimir Klitschko, Dereck Chisora, Steve Cunningham, and Kevin Johnson.
Wilder has defeated and stopped the likes of Luis Ortiz, Dominic Breazeale, Bermane Stiverne, Gerald Washington, Chris Arreola, ARtur Szpilka, Johann Duhaupas, Eric Molina, Malik Scott, and Siarhei Liakhovich.
Wilder does have an edge in amateur experience over Tyson Fury. Fury had an amateur record of 31-4 and is a European Union Championship Gold Medalist. Wilder won a bronze medal in the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Can Wilder’s bomb of a right hand find its target again and put Fury down for the count? It is this writer opinion that the answer is yes. But Fury’s defensive skills should not be overlooked and he has the style to give Wilder a good fight.
Regardless, this should be an entertaining bout for fight fans around the globe.
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Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury Final Press Conference Quotes
Unbeaten WBC Heavyweight Champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder and undefeated lineal heavyweight champion Tyson “The Gypsy King” Fury nearly came to blows at a heated final press conference Thursday as they previewed their highly anticipated rematch headlining a historic mega PPV event this Saturday, February 22 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Wilder and Fury exchanged words and shoves on stage, just two days before they reignite their rivalry in the ring for the most eagerly awaited heavyweight showdown in decades.
Tickets for the event are on sale now and can be purchased at www.mgmgrand.com or www.axs.com. The event is promoted by BombZquad Promotions, TGB Promotions, Top Rank and Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions. A Premier Boxing Champions presentation.
Here is what the press conference participants had to say Wednesday from the MGM Grand Garden Arena:
DEONTAY WILDER
“I truly realized my power during my current knockout streak. I looked at my record and realized I was running through guys and knocking them out. You don’t just go in and knock a human out based on will, you really have to have the power to do so, and through that I realized I had something different. I am just applying my service to my greatness and I am going to use my power up until I can’t use it anymore.”
“My power is God-given; I don’t have to do anything at all. I don’t have to lift weights or do a special type of cardio; it’s born with me. It’s an amazing feeling to have it and to be in this position, out of all the things I could be doing, God placed me in this position. As fighters, we are free in this sport, we say as we please with less consequences, so when I use my platform, I use it well. If people see what I do in my occupation and see that I bring the greatness out of myself, then that will translate to people that look up to me.”
“Anything is possible in the ring, but it comes down to if he can back up his words. That is where your preparation for the fight comes out. One thing for sure, though, I am a great fighter on my back foot. That’s when I’m able to really time you and set you up, and have you run into my own traps. He has a lot of things going on in his camp so that tells you how nervous he is.”
“I don’t believe anything Fury says. I think he is just trying to butter me up and use a lot of mind games. He did that in the first fight to try and steal rounds, so we were lucky that we had experienced judges that weren’t influenced by that. I am not concerned with what I says, I am more focused on what he does. I am a man of action.”
“I am planning for everything, but I think when coming forward doesn’t work for him, he will resort to what he knows. He may try to come forward at first, but once he feels my power, that will stop quickly.”
“Round 12 has been in his mind since day one, that’s why he ran away from the rematch. In the back of Fury’s mind, he will think about how I gave him a concussion and how he had no idea how he even got on the ground. So, I do believe that round is in his head, and if he says otherwise, he is lying.”
“I deserve to be here because of the talent I have and what I am able to do. I have been knocking guys out for 12 years, so this is nothing new to me. I mean what I say, and I say what I mean, and I am exactly where I am supposed to be.”
“You can see that we’re both emotionally invested in this. We both want to give you all the best of us. Come Saturday night, we’re going to release all of our energy in the ring and it’s going to stay there.
“This is the moment I’ve been waiting for, and I’m sure he’s been waiting as well. There are so many odds looking in and helping to put the heavyweight division on notice. This division has had tremendous action these last few years. Our first fight was amazing, and this is going to be an even more intense.”
TYSON FURY
“Wanting to go head to head with him is a bold move, but we fight fire with fire. When I went at him in the first fight, though, he could not contain me. If I start doing that in round one, then he will be gassed by round five and hanging on for dear life, if he even gets that far.”
“The 12th round of our first fight was a good round, and credit to Wilder, he got me with two of the best punches I have ever seen thrown in a 12 round heavyweight fight. As we have seen, that has become very famous, the ole’ knockdown of the Gypsy King was very active online and all over the world. But the thing Wilder must be thinking is, I hit that guy with my hardest punch in round 12, and he got up. What do I have to do to keep him down?”
“The biggest puncher who ever lived should have to problem opening my cut up. He could not keep me down in the 12th round, so now I want to see if he is able to get up off the floor. I don’t think he has the guts to get up.”
“I gave Wilder the biggest payday of his life and brought him to the biggest stage. Deontay owes me everything, I brought him to this level, and this is his second fight at the top.”
“He’s going to try to and the right hand. If I’m stupid enough to get hit with it, I deserve to lose. I hit the floor last time, but I showed that I’m truly a fighting man. If he can’t finish me, I’m going to eat him up.
“Kenny Bayless is a top referee; he has refereed me before and he did a good job. I have no objections with the referees and judges, whoever they are they are, they will do a good job.”
“It’s been no secret that I’m looking for a knockout. That’s why I hired SugarHill and went back to Kronk. He gets you to sit down on that big right hand, and that’s the game plan.”
“What I did last time clearly was not good enough, and what better club to go to than Kronk? I know they can bring out of me exactly what I need for this fight.”
JAY DEAS, Wilder’s Co-Trainer
“We don’t worry about weight. We don’t even use the scale at the gym. As long as he’s training hard and eating well, which he always is, the weight just is what it is. He’s a freak of nature, so we’re not worried about what the other guy brings as far as his weight. Deontay has always been the lighter guy. It’s normal for us. It’s usually advantageous for us.”
“Sugar is a great trainer, so we are ready for the best Tyson Fury. When Deontay wins this fight, he will get the credit for beating Tyson at his absolute best. I don’t want any talk about anything else. I want both guys at their best, and I think that’s what we’ve got.”
“Its fight week, this is what is supposed to happen. This is what happens when you have the two best heavyweights in the world, both undefeated and highly motivated. I wouldn’t expect anything less than this type of energy.
SUGARHILL STEWARD, Fury’s Trainer
“Tyson Fury is a very tall heavyweight, so we believe that he can carry more weight, along with his power. He’s a big, strong heavyweight and extra weight won’t hurt him. He still moves around just like a super middleweight. Plus, he still has the ring IQ to set things up. We’re just adding some punching power to his arsenal.”
“I am excited watching the fighter’s reactions today. Up until now it has been quiet and subtle. Today you saw the mood swings, and all the hard work the fighters have put into their training camps. Emotions are going up, and emotions are going down, but this is what big-time boxing is. Both of these fighters have a chip on their shoulder and are expressing themselves as they should.”
“I feel as if I have done everything he asked for. He wanted to be better technically, more aggressive, and be a big dominant heavyweight.”
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What Does Tyson Fury Think Of His First Contest With Wilder?”One Of My Easiest Fights”
By: Hans Themistode
Deontay Wilder is scary as hell.
It has nothing to do with his 6 foot 7 inch height. The WBC Heavyweight titlist barely cracks 200 pounds whenever he steps on the scale so that can’t be the reason either.
The loud yelling of his catchphrase “BOMBSQUAD,” also isn’t the scariest thing in the world. Especially if you have earplugs to drown it out.
No, what’s terrifying about Wilder is just how hard he hits.
As a young kid, have you ever done something that you know you had no business doing? Of course you did.
Do you remember that feeling of apprehension once your parents found out? Of course you do.
You knew that a butt whooping was coming. Well, that is essentially the same feeling that Wilder gives his opponents once he steps inside of the ring against them.
Wilder has been called a lot of things. A terrible boxer, he has horrible technique and even overrated. But one thing he’s never been called is an easy fight.
Apparently, there’s a first time for everything.
“I would say that was one of my easiest fights, to be fair,” said Fury when posed with the question regarding whether or not Wilder was the most difficult fight of his career. “Other than the two knockdowns, it was a pretty one-sided fight. Deontay Wilder’s not my toughest opponent – that’s for sure.”
Let’s recap the first fight between these two men which took place in 2018, to make sure we didn’t miss anything.
It’s true that Wilder was getting outboxed for roughly 90 percent of the contest. But it’s also true that Fury found himself staring up at the ceiling lights not once, but twice.
Without the knockdowns, the contest between these two would be an easy one to score. But the fact of the matter is, there were two knockdowns and that simply cannot be erased.
Even with Fury absorbing some of the biggest blows of his life, he remains adamant that Wilder is nowhere near the top of his list in terms of the best he’s fought.
“I’m telling you, Deontay Wilder was hands down one of my easiest fights.”
So who exactly would Fury consider his most difficult opponent?
With the sort of resume that he possesses, he could choose from a long list of champions and worthy contenders that he has stepped inside of the ring against.
How about long time Heavyweight contender and British rival Dereck Chisora? The two battled it out back in 2010 and 2014 with Fury coming out with the victory each time. Kevin Johnson is another good to be mentioned here. The former Heavyweight contender has fought seemingly everyone throughout his career.
Both of those men failed to make the cut.
The most difficult fight in the career of Fury came back in 2015. Long reigning unified champion Wladimir Klitschko gave Fury all he could handle when the two fought back in 2015.
That’s both the obvious choice isn’t it? Wrong.
The most arduous contest of Fury’s career came back in 2013, against an opponent you would have never even thought of.
“My toughest opponent in my whole career was Steve Cunningham. He was a former cruiserweight champion. I fought him in 2013 in New York, Madison Square Garden, and that was the toughest fight I ever had.”
Fury would go on to stop Cunningham in the seventh round of their contest but not before he was sent crashing down to the canvas in the second. At the time of the stoppage, Fury needed it desperately as he trailed on two of the judges scorecards, 57-55. The remaining judge had the fight even at the time of the stoppage.
So what made Cunningham a more difficult opponent than both Wilder and Klitschko? The answer might surprise you.
“At that time in me life, I had never fought anybody like Steve Cunningham,” Fury said. “He won the [IBF] cruiserweight title and defended it maybe seven times or something like that. He was a unified champion and it was my step up to anybody with that type of ability. And he was slick, and he was hard to hit. He was very awkward, and he was a very good boxer, so that was the toughest fight of me life.”
Cunningham went on to have a 5-3-1 record as a Heavyweight. He would later move back down to the Cruiserweight division before ending his career in 2017.
As is always the case in boxing, styles make fights. And it seems as though Wilder has the sort of style that Fury has very little issues with.
With that being said, in just a few more days Fury will be given the chance to prove that a match with Wilder is a much easier fight than many would like to believe.
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Bob Arum: “Fury is Going to Knock Wilder Out Before The Eighth Round”
By: Hans Themistode
Everyone has a different way of processing information. There’s a reason why no two people are the same. It’s simply because everyone has a bit of a unique look at certain things in life.
Yet, if you asked several individuals who was going to win the 1990 contest between James “Buster” Douglas and then undefeated Heavyweight unified champion Mike Tyson, everyone would have given you the same answer.
Tyson, by brutal stoppage.
At that point in time, simply making it out of the first round against Tyson was a victory in itself. But pulling off the upset seemed virtually impossible. Well, as luck would have it, Douglas would go on to not just win that bout, but do so via knockout.
That contest may have taken place over 30 years ago, but it is still considered the biggest upset in sports history.
In his younger days, Mike Tyson was a man amongst boys and as he got older, a monster amongst men. At no point in time would anyone have picked against Tyson while he was still in his prime. The unbelievable run Tyson went out left many calling him “the baddest man on the planet.”
Fast forward 15 years since his last fight, and now another Heavyweight champion has taken his nickname and made it into his own. That would be none other than WBC titlist Deontay Wilder.
Through 43 career fights, Wilder has a near spotless record of 42 wins against zero defeats. 41 of those wins have within the distance. And course, one draw.
On February 22nd at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, Wilder will have his chance to make up for his small blemish in the draw column when he takes on Tyson Fury in their highly anticipated rematch.
As mentioned in the very beginning, just about everyone looks at things differently, and this rematch between Wilder and Fury is clear proof to that statement.
If 20 different people were posed with the question of who will win the rematch between Fury and Wilder, more than likely you will receive 20 different answers. But there does seem to be one prevailing thought process throughout it all.
If Wilder wins, it is going to be via stoppage. If Fury on the other hand, leaves with his hand raised, it will be because he out boxed Wilder and won a decision on the judges scorecards.
With Wilder’s ability for knocking out virtually all of his opponents and Fury showing otherworldly boxing skills in the ring, it makes sense to everyone.
Well, everyone but boxing promoter Bob Arum. He fully understands why that storyline has played out but he simply doesn’t agree with it.
“Fury is not like any other fighter,” said Arum during a recent press conference. “There is something magical about him. On February 22nd, I’m going to make a prediction because I’ve watched Tyson Fury train in my gym in Las Vegas and I think it’s not going to be a decision this time. I think Fury is going to knock Wilder out before the eighth round.”
Many would tend to disagree with the statement of Arum. If this contest simply becomes a fire fight, then there just isn’t many boxers in the history of the sport that brings more heat to a contest than Wilder.
“He has that one weapon and that is this massive right hand which to me looks like the hardest hitting right hand that I’ve seen. Certainly since George Foreman.”
At one point, Foreman was also considered the biggest puncher in all of boxing. His 1974 contest against Muhammad Ali shared many similarities to the contest that will take place this Saturday night as well.
Foreman in a sense, was Deontay Wilder. A strong, powerful puncher. While Ali on the other hand was nothing more than a boxer. Much like Wilder, Foreman’s path to victory would be via stoppage. And much like Fury, Ali needed to box, box, box and box some more.
Yet, it was Ali who smelled blood and ended the contest in the eighth round. The same round Arum just predicted Fury would get the job done in against Wilder.
Coincidence? Probably not.
During their first encounter, regardless of what has been said, Fury did rattle Wilder several times. This time around, Arum fully expects his man to go in for the kill.
“It’s not like the first fight when Wilder was in trouble a few times in that fight. Fury’s not gonna let him off the hook. He’s gonna go for the knockout and finish him off this time.”
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One Shot: The Story of Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury II
By: Kirk Jackson
Almost twenty years ago, there was an important question posed across the musical/cinematic universe that happens to apply towards the mega-event rematch, this upcoming weekend between Deontay Wilder (42-0-1, 41 KO’s) and Tyson Fury (29-0-1, 20 KO’s).
“Look, if you had one shot, or one opportunity
To seize everything you ever wanted, in one moment
Would you capture it, or just let it slip?” – Eminem
“Lose Yourself” was the lead-off hit single to soundtrack of critically acclaimed movie 8 Mile, released back in 2002. Many of the lyrics, question included serve as soundtrack and provide the backdrop for this epic rematch between Wilder and Fury.
It only takes one shot, one punch, for Wilder to end the fight and display why he remains the most dangerous man in boxing.
Ruling with bronze fists, the long-time WBC heavyweight champion always comes equipped with bombs ready to detonate and with a singular focus for destruction of his opposition.
“My gut just tells me that I’m ready to go,” Wilder said. “I’m in the best shape of my life. My gut tells me that I’m prepared more than anything. I’m about to put on a show.”
“My gut tells me that I’m the heavyweight champion of the world, and I can’t be beat. And I can’t wait for February 22nd, so I can lay him to rest. That’s what my gut’s telling me.”
Recently hinting at retirement, Fury may only have one shot left for his run at the top of the heavyweight division.
This may sound odd, considering Fury seemingly rose from the canvas multiple times during his first encounter against Wilder. Fury self-described rose like a “Phoenix,” earning a draw in what was a spectacular fight.
While Fury figuratively rose as a phoenix, his personality also shines just as bright – like an irrepressible flame, signifying the resiliency in his personal life; overcoming self-induced drug abuse, battling addictions, depression and overall poor health.
“There’s no stress for me going into the fight,” Fury said. “You know, I’ve been 12 rounds with him, out-boxed him quite comfortable, took his best shots, got up, fired back into it. The one who should be concerned is Deontay Wilder because with him being a one-trick pony, he’s a knockout artist, but he had me down twice in two rounds, nine and 12, and he had over two minutes in each round to finish me and he couldn’t finish me. It was like that ‘Mortal Kombat’ [guy] that said, ‘Finish him!’”
“He couldn’t finish me, so yeah, he’s the one who should be concerned. He’s landed the two best punches that any heavyweight in the world could ever land on somebody else, and ‘The Gypsy King’ rose like a phoenix from the ashes, back to me feet and hurt him in the end of the round.”
“So yeah, it’s gonna be pretty difficult for Wilder, not me. This is heavyweight boxing – I’ve been hit, I’ve been hurt, I’ve been put down in me career. But it’s not when we get put down, it’s what happens when we get back up, keep moving forward.”
Wilder has a different perspective of how the first fight went and has a plan to end things in his favor the second time around.
“I have to throw a lot more in general, for real. The jab sets things up. It sets the right hand up. The left hook, and the uppercut, and everything you want to throw right after it. We’re adding a lot more two-and-three-punch combinations,” said Wilder.
“When I go in there, it’s not like I’m trying to play with fire or lose rounds or whatever. No one wants to lose rounds,” the WBC heavyweight champion continued.
“When you have devastating power like I do, you don’t really worry about it too much. It’s a 12-round fight. Thirty-six minutes. Somebody is going to have to make a mistake, and guess what; you’re going to make more than one mistake. They have to be perfect for 12 rounds. I only have to be perfect for two seconds.”
“My fists are wrecking balls. I told Fury I was going to baptize him. His nerves come from being knocked down before. Just imagine if you were the opponent that night, and you don’t know how f*** you got up? It’s scary, not only to you, but to your family, your friends — everybody. That’s why they don’t want him to take it again. My last two outings didn’t make it any better for him, because I knocked out two guys in devastating fashion. His outings versus my outings are day and night.”
And to Wilder’s point, his last two outings were also against superior opposition in comparison to who Fury battled in preparation for this rematch.
But against different opposition, come varying opportunities and intangibles.
Will the Gypsy King maneuver out of harm’s way and deliver enough punishment to turn the tides and knockout the knockout artist?
Can the Bronze Bomber manipulate his and Fury’s body positioning, to the point to where he lands that vaunted right hand like illustrated in the video below?
Secondary questions to ponder – if Wilder lands the right hand and Fury falls, when will it happen? Will time play friend or foe to Wilder? If Fury is planted on the canvas again will he rise yet again from the grave? And can Wilder put away The Gypsy King for good?
The song “Lose Yourself” is a depiction of an underdog sacrificing everything; battling nerves, combatting all of the negative forces pitted against them and overcoming the odds. While no longer underdogs, both Wilder and Fury are now regarded as respective kings of their craft.
They both represent the manifestation of hard work, natural talent, determination, grit and mental fortitude it takes to rise to the top of the sport. Similar like many great champions of the past.
While discussing the rematch, former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson chimed in proclaiming his admiration of both fighters because of similar humble beginnings.
“They both came from nothing and achieved becoming heavyweight champion. You have to respect that. I was in their position one time,” said Tyson.
It’ll be interesting to see if Fury channels some of the same aggression of the former heavyweight champion he was named after.
Wilder and Fury will each have their opportunity, their shot to win the title and emerge as the premier heavyweight in the world. Who takes it?
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Deontay Wilder: Behind The Mask
By: Sean Crose
It was an unusual pairing. There was the man dressed in white, middle aged to elderly, and there was the much younger man standing before him, towering, seemingly larger than life. Yet Pope Francis, head of the Roman Catholic Church, and Deontay Wilder, undefeated WBC heavyweight champion of the world, seemed to be getting on just fine. In fact, Francis named Wilder the Boxing Ambassador for Peace. It was a cool, if surprising, development. Cool because it was nice to see a spiritual leader engaging with a professional boxer, boxing being a profession some look down on. Surprising because Wilder had been known to say some crazy things, some violent things, some frightening things.
Perhaps, Francis instinctively knew what others had already long ago discovered – that Wilder’s words don’t always match with Wilder the man. That, when it comes to combat sports, public utterances often amount to pro wrestling style salesmanship. For here in Wilder is a fighter who has found himself worried about a fallen opponent, who has lived the life of a concerned parent for a child with medical issues, and who – it has been whispered – given another fighter a crack at his title simply so that fighter could take care of his own family. Those who watch Wilder’s fights know he likes to wear masks. Yet the masks Wilder wears can sometimes be more than the mere material objects he walks to the ring in.
If one is to understand the difference between Wilder the boxer and Wilder the man, then one might want to consider one simple fact: Wilder knows that combat sports are about combat. And in combat, you go for the finish. You don’t hesitate. You end things, lest you be the one who gets ended. Perhaps no one in sports today has what’s known as “the killer instinct” in the abundance Wilder does. As a professional boxer, he has no moral qualms about laying a man out. After all, it’s part of the game. With a clean conscience, then, Wilder is able to enable his killer instinct to maximum effect. Other fighters are capable of doing the same thing, of course. They just don’t hit as hard as Wilder does.
And, make no mistake about it – its Wilder’s power that sets the Alabaman above his peers – perhaps above all previous fighters in history, for that matter. Others can hit – but not as Wilder does. The man absolutely, positively, turns off the lights in a way no one else can. Yet Wilder’s skills are underrated, too. This is no flailing maniac in the ring. While he may rely on his high caliber rifle of a right hand, Wilder arguably has created a style designed to enable him to pull the trigger for maximum effect. Watching the 6’7 heavyweight in action, one becomes impressed with his patience. He’s willing to let round after round after round go to his opponent. All the while, he’s readying himself for the opportunity to strike. And he has yet to meet a man he hasn’t eventually landed on. Hard. Tyson Fury, however, has gotten up. What’s more, the Englishman has battled Wilder to a draw, making him the only person Wilder hasn’t been able to defeat outright in the ring. Then again, Wilder is the only person Fury hasn’t been able to defeat outright in the ring. Fury came close, but that thunderous right of Wilder’s put him on the mat in the final round of their 2018 bout. The outspoken Brit managed to get up and fight gamely, but he didn’t get the win. Now a highly publicized and highly anticipated rematch between the two super-sized divisional rivals is set to go down this Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In truth, it appears each man respects the other. Indeed, each man may actually like the other. They seem, Wilder and Fury, to be almost equally matched in size, temperament, and talent. Fury, though, is wildly unpredictable. One never knows what version of Fury will show up in the ring. Wilder, on the other hand, is thoroughly predictable. You needn’t be Sherlock Holmes to know what he’s bringing to a fight. And what he’s bringing, frankly, is scary. That’s something no mask can hide.
