Who wins the Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder trilogy?
It's finally here! The trilogy decider between WBC World heavyweight champion Tyson Fury (30-0-1, 21KOs) and bitter rival Deontay 'The Bronze Bomber' Wilder 42-1-1, 41KOs).
This warring pair, who have provided fans with so much drama and excitement will square off for the third time at the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas on October 9.
Wilder wants to even the score after suffering a humiliating seventh-round stoppage defeat to the Brit in February 2020, following their infamous draw in 2018.
Now the pair meet for a final time, so BBN checked with their panel of boxing experts to see who they tink wins and why:
BOXERS
Mike Tyson
Former Undisputed world heavyweight champion
“You know, Deontay Wilder has nothing to be sad about or nothing to complain about, he's fought great fights… I just think Tyson Fury has his number.
Deontay Wilder should go all out for five or six rounds. If you catch him, you catch him. Go all out, win or lose.”
Paulie Malignaggi
Forner two-weight world champion
“I think it’s hard for Wilder to match-up with Fury, and I think it’s stylistically a bad fight for him,” Paulie told iFL TV.
“I think wilder is one of the best heavyweights in the world. I don’t think he stylistically matches up with Fury. I don’t believe, so Wilder fights going backwards really well. For anybody that gives me the Szpilka knockout or Luis Ortiz knockout in the second fight, a step-back counter shot isn’t fighting to go backwards.
“I’m talking about a guy that is consistently backing you up, and your momentum now is taking you backwards and psychologically; you need to be in reverse mode fighting.
“That’s what Fury does to you, and I don’t think Wilder knows how to fight like that. There have been some great fighters that didn’t know how to fight going backwards.
“Sometimes it’s a matter of styles, and it’s a problem. I think Wilder needs to believe his hype in this situation between he lost his last fight. So I think he needs to believe that there were reasons for it.”
Anthony Joshua
Two-time unified world heavyweight champion
“Fury won the last one, so I’ll go with Fury because you’re only as good as your last performance. Good luck to both.
Look, because you’ve asked the question, let’s go with Wilder because he seems obsessed, like he really wants it.
He seems really focused on the task ahead, so, you know, a focused man is a dangerous man and he’s focused.
Wilder might get the decision. Actually, no, it has to be a knockout.”
David Haye
Two-weight world champion
“I don’t write Wilder off completely, but you’re only as good as your last fight. And in the last fight, Wilder didn’t have any success whatsoever.
The first fight, it was kind of 50-50. It was a draw with arguments one way or another, but the last fight was so one-sided that it’s hard to see what Wilder can do to turn it around. But this is boxing, and when you can punch as hard as Wilder, you can’t write him off.
Fury keeps proving the public wrong, he keeps ripping up the script, and he keeps doing his thing. He’s definitely on a roll if you look at his results, and I’m looking forward to it.”
Frank Bruno
Former WBC heavyweight world champion
"I think Tyson won't just beat him again – he's a much better boxer than Wilder and he'll school him..
Fury will be going in nearly five stone heavier than Wilder and, if he boxes smart, and wears him down, that will make a big difference.
But you have to be wary of Wilder's windmill punch. He's got a big punch, not much else, but you have to give him a puncher's chance.
As long as Tyson Fury doesn't get involved with this guy… This guy is a very dangerous hard puncher. Don't get stupid. This guy's got pure power but nothing else.
I think Tyson's got it under control. I hope so. I think Tyson Fury will knock him out."
Errol Spence Jr.
Unified welterweight world champion
“I’m rolling with Deontay. How can I roll with a dude across the pond? I’ve been watching Deontay’s videos and he’s been looking sharp. Now he’s throwing combinations to the body.
He has somebody his height. Hooks to the body. Hooks to the head. 1-2-3’s and things like that. Uppercuts. A lot of things that he was missing.
A lot of times he was just a 1-2 fighter. It’ll be good to see him able to switch things up. I’m hoping Deontay Wilder gets his payback and just dues.
It looks like he’s been training hard and staying focused and getting in shape. I wish him the best. I hope he gets the big knockout.”
Nick Campbell
Unbeaten heavyweight prospect
"Tyson Fury by KO inside seven rounds. I think Fury is too good for Wilder and I think it will be an even more convincing performance than last time out."
Scott Welch
Former world title contender
"I don’t think it’s a forgone conclusion, my heart's with Fury but Wilder has nothing to lose and everything to gain. However, I predict Fury will win."
PROMOTERS
Frank Warren
Tyson Fury's promoter
“You can’t change this guy [Wilder]. You’re not going to turn him into a boxer, he’s too old.
We know he’s dangerous and I think it’s exciting…the only way he can beat Tyson Fury is to knock him over, he’s not going to outbox him.
I think from the first round he’s going to try and put it on him. That’s the only chance he’s got and if he does that it also plays into Tyson’s hands as we saw in the last fight.
Tyson going forward and throwing bombs as well – Tyson’s got a good chin. If it’s a shootout, I’d still back Tyson.”
TRAINERS
Paul Stevenson
Boxing Trainer
"Each fight has been different. The first one, Fury boxed on the back foot; the second one, he was the aggressor. I think Tyson has the better pedigree and the higher quality but Wilder is very, very dangerous so he has to be switched on for the duration of the contest. They do say rematches throughout history tend to go the same way as the last one but quicker, so I wouldn't be suprised if we see a repeat but, at the same time, Wilder has always got a punchers' chance, he's always dangerous."
Mark Tibbs
Boxing Trainer
"Fury wins – he is much bigger and is the most natural boxer and I feel he will deliver another decisive win again in the third fight. So Tyson Fury as the bigger man, a skilful naturalist, and I’m very confident he does the job again."
WRITERS
Tim Rickson
BBN Editor
“In the first fight, Fury outboxed Wilder from the outside, trying to stay away from his powerful right hand, which caught up with him in the final round and that fateful knockdown denied him the win. I believe Ben Davison's tactics were a mistake – why plan to go 12 rounds with the hardest puncher in the world when you know you can outbox him and better him so much?
SugarHill Steward got it right in the rematch, where Fury pressed Wilder, put it on him, and just battered him for seven one-sided rounds. However, there was a scary moment in the first round, where Fury stood off Wilder and got buzzed by a right hand, which he fortunately managed to stay up from. In the second round, Wilder lands the powerful right again, but the next time Fury rides the punch, which shows he learnt from the first round, then Wilder tried again and Fury completely slipped under it. But then, in the last few seconds, he lands the same shot on Tyson's head, but Fury just takes it and fires back even more. Any more right hands thrown after that round fell well short.
Now, he needs to do the same again, step in close from the first bell and bully the American until he can take no more. The way I see it is that Wilder has incredible 'lights out' power where he can end the fight with a single punch. But Fury managed to take that power and still get up in the first fight, then he took his best shot in the second fight, so Wilder can't knock this guy out like he can everyone else and he can't match him for boxing skills either. Therefore, I believe Fury is the favourite and it's his fight to win or lose.
I sincerely hope that Fury wades in aggressively, takes the fight to Wilder again and batter him even more badly than the last fight. If he does, then I think Fury can win within the first four rounds. I love the way Fury closes the gap with his footwork and feints, which he will need to do again. Wilder is brave, so if he gets knocked down, he will get back up again. I should note that Wilder has a new trainer and made adjustments, apparently, but I also think he shows signs of delusion at times and likes to hear what he wants to hear. You can tell this is true from all the excuses he made after his loss. When he makes promises, I'm a little unsure, but when Tyson promises things, I believe him.”
Jack Bradley
BBN Writer
“After outboxing Wilder in their first fight (albeit whilst getting dropped twice on his way to a controversial draw) and frankly beating him up in their second, it would be simple to say Fury probably has the Indian sign over Wilder – and maybe he does. But there's a few intangibles in this fight that I think ought to be considered: Fury is yet to defend any iteration of the world titles he has won (the reasons why are well-stated), and whilst he has shown no signs of being unable to handle pressure in the past, all of the pressure is now on him for the first time since his comeback. Not only that, Wilder comes into this fight with a new trainer in Malik Scott and appears to be working on making adjustments to his overall game under his tutelage.
I expect that the fight will be a bit closer – and certainly cagier – than their second encounter. I think Wilder will be a bit more measured in his approach this time around, and expect he'll have prepared for his giant opponent to try out-hustle and out-fight him on the inside. Can he negate that in his first fight under Scott? I'm not so sure. I can see Fury getting hurt early and it'll become a cagier affair, but expect Wilder will do what Wilder does and try to give the judges the night off. If that happens and he opens up more later on, I think Fury may hurt him back and get him out of there – so I'll go for a late Fury stoppage after an early knockdown.”
Daniel Smith
BBN Writer
“Immediately after their second fight, and for months and months into 2020 and 2021, most of us were convinced Wilder gets some more of the same should the trilogy occur. However, from the introjection of short video clips where Deontay is leathering the pads, perceptions have slightly altered, and the considerations have almost gone full circle, thus once again, giving the ‘Bronze Bomber’ a sporting chance of hitting Fury with the house and everything in it to earn the kayo victory he so desires.
This of course is a possibility, and the only chance Wilder has of winning the bout in my opinion. But if we look at it this way: Wilder can’t be any worse than the last time the two heavies met. Question is, can Fury be any better?
I don’t think it goes the distance, and I don’t think it’ll be over as quickly as last time.
Fury wins in the ninth.”
Mick Kane
Boxing / MMA Writer
“Fury has proven in the previous two fights he is the superior boxer and I expect him to outbox Wilder again. The only chance, and its a big chance, is if he lands a heavy shot to knock Fury out.
Wilder has looked good in the clips I've seen of his training, he seems focused on the job in hand. Fury seems relaxed and maybe underestimates Wilder slightly after the previous fight. The problem is that Fury knows he can beat Wilder, Wilder knows yhat he has landed his best shots and not beat Fury. We also seen the excuses from Wilder after the last fight in which he was in denial. I think Fury wins by Wilder gassing and Fury stopping him.”
John Raspanti
www.maxboxing.com
"Hard to go against Fury. He has advantages in foot and hand speed. Wilder is powerful, but has real problems fighting when backing up.
Fury will likely try to do what he did in the second fight. He feels his added weight will help him absorb a Wilder bomb (like he did a few times in round two).
Wilder is extremely determined, but Fury is the better fighter. I see Fury winning by late stoppage or decision."
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