Tyson Fury hires legendary cutman Jacob ‘Stitch’ Duran to protect eye against Deontay Wilder’s punching power
Tyson Fury has recruited legendary cutman Jacob ‘Stitch’ Duran for his rematch with Deontay Wilder next month.
The ‘Gypsy King’ will get a second shot at WBC champion Wilder at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on February 22 after their dramatic draw in December 2018.
After vowing to knock the ‘Bronze Bomber’ out inside two rounds, it seems as though Fury will adopt a more aggressive approach for the rematch after feeling he was cheated in the first fight.
And the added risk involved in that strategy is clearly not lost on Fury, who has decided to spare no cost in his preparation for the sequel in Sin City.
Having suffered a horrendous gash in his last fight against Otto Wallin which required 47 stitches and plastic surgery, Fury has hired Duran to help him if he finds himself in trouble against Wilder.
The cutman for the fight against Wallin, Jorge Capetillo was handsomely rewarded for dealing with the potentially career-threatening injury in September.
And after Wilder’s ominous threat to target the cut, Fury has decided to go with the best and bring in Duran – who celebrated their partnership with a gushing post on Instagram.
‘Stitch’ has history with Fury having worked in Wladimir Klitschko’s corner on that infamous night in Dusseldorf in 2015 when Fury took the world heavyweight titles from the giant Ukrainian.
‘Dr Steelhammer’ formed a tight relationship with Duran throughout his career, having met him on the set of Ocean’s 11 and then subsequently working with him in his last fight against Anthony Joshua in 2017.
‘Stitch’ has also worked alongside UFC legends Anderson Silva, Georges St-Pierre, Lyoto Machida, Forrest Griffin and Cain Velasquez, before he was released by the company in 2015 for comments made about sponsors Reebok.
After appearing in the final movie of the ‘Rocky’ franchise, Sylvester Stallone then cast the 69-year-old in the subsequent ‘Creed’ movies.
He was also part of KSI’s team for his professional boxing debut against bitter rival Logan Paul back in November.