Deontay Wilder returns to the ring Saturday, looking to chart a path back to the top of the heavyweight division. The power puncher takes on Robert Helenius in a WBC world title eliminator on a pay-per-view card from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Wilder last fought in October 2021, losing to Tyson Fury for the second time in a row. He was outclassed in both of those fights, but that doesn't mean the former WBC titleholder isn't worthy of another shot at a belt.
The 35-year-old is a perfect 42-0 against fighters not named Fury, and the latter may not be in the game for much longer.
If Wilder can return to his winning ways, he just might get another shot at glory.
Wilder vs. Helenius Fight Info
When: Saturday, Oct. 15 at 9 p.m. ET (main card)
Where: Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York
TV: Fox Sports PPV
Live stream: Fox Sports PPV, Fite.TV ($74.99)
Odds: Wilder -800, Helenius +500
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.
Wilder is undoubtedly the name selling this pay-per-view, but Helenius isn't a fighter to be overlooked.
The Nordic Nightmare was considered a potential star a little over a decade ago, even scoring a split-decision win over Dereck Chisora in 2011. But injuries and some lackluster showings derailed his career, and he's never been able to maneuver his way into a world title challenge, though he's come close.
A pair of dominant stoppage wins over the previously undefeated Adam Kownacki has put Helenius in position for a nice payday and a potential showcase against Wilder. And the Sweden-born slugger is looking to capitalize on the opportunity.
"I'm really happy to get this opportunity, of course. I've been training and boxing for 25 years, and I've had my ups and downs. I feel like everything is connecting, and that's why I'm here," the 38-year-old told reporters.
Helenius will have to show the same skill and spirit he's displayed in recent fights against Kownacki if he's to score a significant upset. Wilder is not the most technically savvy of fighters, but he has a devastating right hand and knows how to set it up well. His highlight reel speaks for itself.
There is, of course, concern that his losses to Fury may have taken something out of him. He was stopped twice in both fights and suffered a total of five knockdowns. Those are the kind of beatings that can permanently alter a boxer.
Then again, Wilder has spent much of his career dishing out swift punishment thanks to his legendary power, and he has had a full year to recover. It wouldn't be surprising to see him put in a sharp performance and patiently set up Helenius for a late show-stopping number.
Wilder has also set new goals for himself with the Fury trilogy behind him. He's called out the likes of Anthony Joshua and professed a desire to fight at least three more years.
"I only want to do this until 40," Wilder told Ben Baby of ESPN.com. "I feel like I have a little bit more time left that I can provide my service to my greatness. And that's what I'm going to do."
If his heart is truly in it, Wilder is a good bet to take down Helenius. Fury is considered the genius of his heavyweight generation, but the Tuscaloosa, Alabama native has managed to knock him down four times in three fights, and was seconds away from winning their first meeting in 2018.
Any version of Wilder that is even close to his peak should be enough to get a stoppage against a dangerous but overpowered Helenius.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL).
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), or call or text the TN REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN).
21+. NJ/PA/WV/IN/IA/CO/IL/TN only. In partnership with Meadows Racetrack & Casino. Eligibility restrictions apply.
See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.
Two women reportedly filed lawsuits in Los Angeles on Wednesday saying former professional boxer George Foreman sexually abused them in the 1970s when they were minors.
TMZ Sports obtained the lawsuits that are seeking unspecified damages.
One of the women said she met Foreman through her father, who worked with the boxer, when she was approximately eight years old. She said he started "grooming" her by "taking her out for ice cream and allowing her to sit on his lap as [he] drove his car" and eventually engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior when she was 13 years old and sexual intercourse when she was 15 years old.
He was in his 20s.
The other woman said she also met Foreman through her father, who she said was the boxer's "long-time advisor."
She said she was nine years old when she met him and that approximately six years later he started to "molest and sexually abuse" her until she was 16.
While the women said Foreman "did not deny the allegations" when he was previously confronted about his actions by a friend, the boxer released a statement to TMZ Sports in July and denied the allegations.
"I adamantly and categorically deny these allegations," he said. "The pride I take in my reputation means as much to me as my sports accomplishments, and I will not be intimidated by baseless threats and lies."
Foreman said the women are attempting to "extort millions of dollars each from me and my family."
Foreman is 73 years old. The final fight of his boxing career came in 1997.
Boxing legend George Foreman alleges that he is being extorted by two women who he says made up allegations that he sexually abused them.
According to TMZ Sports, the two women intend to file a lawsuit this week in Los Angeles against Foreman saying that he sexually abused them in the 1970s. The fathers of both women "apparently had a friendship and working relationship with Foreman decades ago."
Foreman released a statement on Wednesday denying the allegations and saying the women are trying to extort money from him:
"Over the past six months, two women have been trying to extort millions of dollars each from me and my family. They are falsely claiming that I sexually abused them over 45 years ago in the 1970s. I adamantly and categorically deny these allegations. The pride I take in my reputation means as much to me as my sports accomplishments, and I will not be intimidated by baseless threats and lies."
A source told TMZ Sports that the women have previously asked Foreman to pay each of them $12.5 million, but he believes the entire situation is part of "a coordinated extortion plot."
A former two-time heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medalist, Foreman is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame. He is also an entrepreneur known for his George Foreman Grill. His net worth is estimated to be around $300 million, per TMZ Sports.
Foreman concluded his statement by indicating that he fully intends to fight the allegations.
"I am, and always will be, guided by my faith and trust in God," Foreman said. "I will work with my lawyers to fully and truthfully expose my accusers' scheme and defend myself in court. I don't pick fights, but I don't run away from them either."
Former NBA point guard Deron Williams and ex-NFL running back Frank Gore are set to face off in a heavyweight boxing match on the undercard of the Jake Paul-Tyron Woodley rematch Saturday night in Tampa, Florida.
Saturday's bout, scheduled for four rounds with a weight limit of 215 pounds, will mark the pro debuts for both combatants. Williams, 37, is a three-time NBA All-Star who spent the majority of his career with the Utah Jazz and the New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets. He last played in the NBA in 2016, splitting time between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Dallas Mavericks.
Gore, is a five-time Pro Bowl selection and the NFL's third all-time leading rusher with 16,000 yards. He was revered for his longevity at one of football's most physically demanding positions, and he last played for the New York Jets in 2020.
Both Williams and Gore have accomplished plenty in their chosen sports, and they will now look to prove themselves in a new context.
Williams vs. Gore Fight Info
When: Saturday, Dec. 18 at 9 p.m. ET (main card)
Where: Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida
Live stream/TV: Showtime pay-per-view ($59.95)
Odds: Williams -170 (bet $170 to win $100), Gore +140 (bet $100 to win $140)
Odds via DraftKings
It's natural to wonder how these two ended up as opponents in the ring. Unlike some of the other celebrity or crossover boxing matches that have popped up in the past couple of years, there's no feud here, no score to be settled. In this case, both men say they are fighting because they have long appreciated and been interested in combat sports.
According to the Washington Post's Ben Golliver, Williams has owned a mixed martial arts gym in Dallas since 2015, and he was also a wrestler before focusing his attention on basketball. He initially wanted to try his hand at MMA, but the pandemic derailed those plans. The opportunity for a boxing match came up, and the retired NBA playmaker decided he was ready to test himself.
"Fighting is the hardest thing you can do, mentally and physically," Williams said, per Golliver. "It's a grind. It takes a lot out of you. There's a certain level of fear of getting embarrassed and waking up not knowing what the hell just happened. At the same time, you're still making that walk. You're still doing something that a lot of people don't have the [guts] to do."
While Williams has more of a background in wrestling and MMA, Gore has been training as a boxer for several years. He started incorporating the sweet science into his offseason workouts as early as 2011, per SFGate.com's Scott Ostler. The regimen clearly did him some good, as Gore was able to play 16 years in the NFL, an almost unheard of number for a running back. He plans to carry the same toughness and tenacity he showed on the gridiron to the boxing ring.
"I'm taking this seriously. I want to look good, and of course, I want to win. When the fight is over on Saturday night, I want people to say, 'Man, whatever you put your mind into, you can do it.' This is no joke; a lot of people would be scared to get in the ring and go one-on-one with another guy," said Gore, per Bad Left Hook's Wil Esco.
While Gore might seem like a more sensible pick on Saturday night because of his football background, Williams is actually a slight favorite. That's likely thanks to his physical advantages, as Golliver noted he is six inches taller than Gore and has a nine-inch reach advantage.
If Gore is going to get the win in this four-rounder, he's going to have find a way to get past Williams' jab and hit the target at close range.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL).
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), or call or text the TN REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN).
21+. NJ/PA/WV/IN/IA/CO/IL/TN only. In partnership with Meadows Racetrack & Casino. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.
At last, Deontay Wilder got what he deserved.
Sort of.
Though a devastating right hand from Tyson Fury crashed unabated into the left side of his skull, rendered him competitively limp and careening toward the ring floor at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, his never-say-die credo was left intact.
And as he left the ring without an interview and was quickly whisked away in an ambulance to nearby University Medical Center for a precautionary post-traumatic evaluation, precisely no one among the 15,000-plus fans, foes and nonpartisan onlookers in the building had a contrarian leg to stand on when it came to critiquing his fighting spirit.
Meaning what an Olympic bronze, a professional championship and 10 successful title defenses never completely got him, a second straight concussive beatdown from Fury—this time without a humane, towel-waving surrender from the corner—was able to secure.
Undisputed heavyweight respect.
Such is the lingering residue of an instant classic.
Which Wilder's epic trilogy closer with Fury on Saturday night—even in defeat—certainly was.
"Unequivocally," ex-HBO blow-by-blow man Jim Lampley told Bleacher Report. "Truly great fights always elevate both fighters. Some fans will struggle to recall who actually won, believe it or not. There's a very small universe of heavyweight title bouts like that, and they do live forever."
Indeed, the dramatic give-and-take of Fury-Wilder III—which included multiple knockdowns of both fighters before the final round—elevated the totality of a rivalry that had begun in 2018 with a disputed 12-round draw and continued in 2020 with Fury's savage seventh-round TKO win.
That fight ended when Wilder's then-trainer, ex-Olympic and professional welterweight champ Mark Breland, stopped proceedings when it appeared his man was seconds away from a third trip to the mat.
Wilder complained long and loud in the aftermath, lamenting that he had been given up before unconsciousness and later claiming, among other things, that Breland had been acting on Fury's behalf.
It was the sort of ridiculousness that needed a palate-cleanser far stronger than a new trainer.
Ex-opponent Malik Scott supplanted Breland and promised a fully utilized toolbox, and his man delivered early on with an active and effective jab that helped him better complement and unleash his signature right hand.
The latter weapon produced a pair of sudden knockdowns in the fourth round and intermittent moments of drama across the next six, but Wilder's strongest competitive attribute was not his power but his heart.
He persisted through a brutal battering that swelled both his eyes and drew blood from his mouth and left ear, and he instinctively tried to rise even after referee Russell Mora correctly called a halt to the fight during Wilder's semiconscious crash-landing to the canvas in the 11th.
Albeit clearly disappointed, Wilder did not protest the stoppage this time, though Fury said in his in-ring interview that he was snubbed again by his rival upon approaching Wilder's corner after the fight—apparently continuing the vitriol between the parties.
"He's got no love for me, Deontay Wilder," Fury said. "Do you know why? Because I beat him three times. I'm a sportsman, and I went over to him to show some love and respect, and he didn't want to give it back. That's his problem. I'll pray for him so God will soften his heart."
The petulance will leave a mark, according to Randy Gordon, ex-commissioner of the New York State Athletic Commission and current host of At the Fights on SiriusXM Radio.
"I think he is admired for his willingness to go out on his shield and the huge heart he showed," Gordon told Bleacher Report. "But his lack of both class and sportsmanship will stain his legacy."
Still, whether that legacy ends with Fury remains to be seen.
Wilder is 42-0 against everyone other than the British behemoth, and he remains a marketable commodity thanks to his vast promotional connections, compelling backstory and paralyzing one-punch power that's led to 41 stoppages.
A bout with another British hero, Anthony Joshua, was frequently talked-up a few years back when both fighters were unbeaten and early in their title reigns, and it could be revisited again in a last-stand context now that both are ex-champions who have been beaten twice each.
Joshua and Wilder are ranked second and third, respectively, by The Ring—trailing only Fury, who holds the magazine's championship belt, and Oleksandr Usyk, who beat Joshua in September to win the IBF, IBO, WBA and WBO title belts.
Lampley thinks it's a fight that leans favorably toward Wilder—simply because it's not Fury.
"A soft tune-up, then Joshua, who is not as punishing as Fury," he said. "The 275 pounds are a different dimension. Weight won the fight along with Tyson's illogical countering accuracy. Lands on the sweet spot of the glove over and over. Amazing. Long arms like that shouldn't function as precisely inside as he does."
And if there's no Joshua and no repeat title run, label him a modern-day Earnie Shavers.
Shavers was a full-time operator from 1969 to 1983, fighting at least once in each of those years while going 72-13-1 with 67 knockouts. He lost two heavyweight title fights along the way, dropping a unanimous 15-round decision to Muhammad Ali at Madison Square Garden in 1977 and flooring Larry Holmes in the seventh round before losing via 11th-round TKO two years later.
He's frequently listed among the hardest punchers in boxing history, and Lampley edges Wilder ahead of him based on the latter man's championship-level success.
"Better resume than Shavers. Maybe," he said. "Similar in that there is an elite fraternity of right-hand bombers, and they are both definitely in it. Legends of the right cross. I think right now his legacy is the right hand and the grit he showed in all three fights."
Heavyweight star Anthony Joshua has exercised his contractual rematch clause with Oleksandr Usyk for the unified heavyweight championship after losing to Usyk in September, per ESPN's Mike Coppinger.
"Back in the game and looking for him to become a three-time world champion," Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn said Saturday.
The 34-year-old Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs) dominated the first fight, winning a unanimous decision on Sept. 25. It was the 31-year-old Joshua's second loss in his last four fights, as he also lost to Andy Ruiz Jr. by TKO in June 2019 (though he won the rematch in December of that year).
For his career, Joshua is 24-2. He'll obviously be keen to go 2-0 in his rematch bouts.
For now, a Joshua vs. Tyson Fury matchup remains on hold. Fury is finishing up his trilogy with Deontay Wilder on Saturday night, and Coppinger noted that the WBC "ruled that if the winner of Saturday's bout doesn't unify with Usyk next, that the victor will be ordered to fight Dillian Whyte, the long-standing WBC No. 1 contender."
A Joshua-Fury fight feels inevitable, but the timing remains in flux, depending on how other chips fall in the heavyweight division.
One thing is for certain—if Joshua was overlooking Usyk with a Fury fight in mind when they first fought, he won't make that same mistake twice.
"I've watched the fight, analyzed my preparations and identified my mistakes," Joshua told reporters after the loss. "I've learned my lesson. Don't worry about me. My spirit is strong!"
After more than a year-and-a-half of waiting, Deontay Wilder (42-1-1 41 KOs) will finally get his shot at revenge against WBC world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The last time we saw either of these two men in the ring was in February 2020, when Fury put on a clinic against the then-WBC champion. He neutralized Wilder's power, boxed smartly behind the jab and tagged him with power punches en route to a seventh-round technical knockout win. It was Wilder's first loss, the only score he has to settle in a career that has seen him knock out nearly all of his opponents.
For Fury, the win was confirmation he's the most talented heavyweight in the game today. He was a unified champion after beating Wladimir Klitschko in 2015, but he then took a long absence from the sport as he dealt with mental health issues.
Upon returning to the ring, Fury quickly got back into the championship rotation. That's where he met Wilder the first time, in December 2018, in a thrilling, brutal draw that saw Fury narrowly avoid a loss by getting up from a 12th-round knockdown. Wilder was just a couple of seconds from the defining win of his career, but Fury beat the count, and now Wilder is still chasing that signature win. Saturday night may be his last chance to get it.
Fury vs. Wilder 3 Fight Info
When: Saturday, Oct. 9 at 9 p.m. ET (main card)
Where: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas
TV: BT Sports Box Office (UK)
Live stream: ESPN+, Fox Sports pay-per-view
Odds: Fury -310, Wilder +240
Odds via DraftKings
If Wednesday's pre-fight presser is any indication, these two are truly sick of each other and ready for the final chapter in their rivalry, per Top Rank Boxing:
Fury is the obvious favorite here. He's outboxed Wilder for the vast majority of their time in the ring together, but two late knockdowns kept him from claiming victory the first time out. Wilder is far and away the more dangerous puncher, possessing a right hand that seems to snatch the skeleton from his opponents.
Take a look at this knockout against Dominic Breazeale in 2019 (57 seconds into the video below):
It's an extraordinary weapon, but critics of Wilder will say its his only tool in the toolkit. He's certainly built a nice career off of it, and it does take a certain skill to set up those power shots with the jab and keep opponents from mounting their own attacks, but Wilder's reliance on his right hand might make him a bit too predictable for a fighter of Fury's caliber. He's hoping to change the narrative on Saturday night.
"I believe in what we've been doing in camp. I believe in my team and the ability that I have," Wilder said, per Bad Left Hook's Will Esco. "Like I said, Malik (Scott) has brought the best out of me, things that I haven't done 'cause I haven't had to—but to bring it out and be able to do it on a consistent basis, I think it's gonna be beneficial for me and I'm looking forward to displaying my talent and ability up inside the ring."
Wilder has had plenty of time to work with Scott, study Fury and prepare a new game plan. Any new wrinkles that can either slow Fury down or give him more opportunity to put together clean combinations will get him closer to a massive upset. Fury, for his part, doesn't believe Wilder has it in him.
Following the second fight, Wilder blamed his ring-walk costume for sapping his strength when talking to Yahoo's Kevin Iole, and he has also accused Fury of cheating to get the win. He has repeatedly brought up the cheating angle, including in the Top Rank video above. To Fury, these are signs of mental weakness. He believes he can win again because the American hasn't come to terms with his failures in the previous fight.
"What I've seen from Deontay Wilder is he can't accept defeat," Fury told reporters. "He doesn't know why he lost—he's got a million reasons why."
"He didn't show any class at all in defeat, and he hasn't accepted he's been beaten. Therefore, he can't overcome it."
While Fury may believe Wilder doesn't have what it takes to really improve himself, he's not taking anything for granted. Wilder's power can render even the best strategies and tactics irrelevant. Fury knows he's in constant danger, calling Wilder's right hand an "atomic bomb" when speaking to BBC Sport (h/t Mikey Dilullo of The Tuscaloosa News). In order to deal with that threat, Fury is apparently packing even more weight on to his massive 6'9" frame.
His trainer, SugarHill Steward, told Vegas Insider that Fury could be "heavier than last time by 20 pounds or so," putting him at about 290 pounds. A bigger base could help Fury pack more power on offense and allow him to absorb Wilder's blows. There's also a chance it could backfire by making him less mobile in the ring or taking away his stamina.
No matter who wins the fight, the next item on the agenda should be unifying all four major belts in the division. Oleksandr Usyk now holds three of the major titles after beating Anthony Joshua in September, but the latter has promised to invoke his rematch clause. Whoever wins that match should then take on the winner of Fury-Wilder. It's likely the biggest fight the sport can make in 2022.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL).
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), or call or text the TN REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN).
21+. NJ/PA/WV/IN/IA/CO/IL/TN only. In partnership with Meadows Racetrack & Casino. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.
Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder are just days away from the third chapter in their thrilling rivalry. On Saturday, Fury (30-0-1, 21 KOs) will put his WBC world heavyweight title on the line against Wilder (42-1-1, 41 KOs) at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Wilder is behind in the series with one draw and one loss. The two fought to an epic stalemate the first time out, with Fury surviving two late knockdowns from Wilder. The second fight saw Fury go right after the champion, returning the favor with two knockdowns of his own before the referee waved off the fight in the seventh, giving Fury the title.
The pay-per-view matchup is going to draw plenty of interest in what has been a rocky year for the sport. Here's a look at the latest odds going into Saturday's action.
Fight Odds
Tyson Fury: -310 (bet $310 to win $100)
Deontay Wilder: +240 (bet $100 to win $240)
Prop Bets
Method of Victory
Fury Points or Decision: +260
Wilder Points or Decision: +1600
Fury KO/TKO: -115
Wilder KO/TKO: +275
Draw: +2200
Will Fight Go the Distance?
Yes: +190
No: -280
Total Rounds in Fight
Over 7.5: -115
Under 7.5: -105
To be Knocked Down
Fury: +130
Wilder: -150
Will Both Fighters be Knocked Down?
Yes: +285
When Will the Fight End
Round 1-3: +500
Round 4-6: +285
Round 7-9: +300
Round 10-12: +550
Scorecard Predictions
As the prop bets suggest, this fight isn't likely to go to the cards. Wilder, 35, has knocked out a stunning 93.2 percent of his opponents, per BoxRec. The only people to make it to the judges against him are Fury and Bermane Stiverne, who lost to Wilder by unanimous decision in 2015. Everyone else has been flattened.
While Fury is much more skilled than the long list of fighters Wilder has knocked out in the past, the Bronze Bomber still believes he has what it takes to put him to sleep.
"There's many things that I visualized in the first fight, along with the second, and I didn't execute the game-plan," Wilder said after arriving in Las Vegas, per SkySports.com's Richard Damerell. "But this time around it's just a different feeling. All the way around. The atmosphere. The energy as a whole."
Fury, 33, isn't nearly as prolific when it comes to knockouts, but he showed in the last fight that he has all the tools to overwhelm and punish Wilder. Assuming he's as confident as he was the last time out, the "Gypsy King" will likely go for a similar manner of victory.
The longer the fight goes on, like in their first meeting, the more chances it will give Wilder to get his timing down and potentially send him to the canvas. Fury isn't going to take his chances with the American.
"We both know what we can do, there's no secrets," Fury said, per Reuters (h/t ESPN.com). "I'm dealing with a guy that can knock you out with one punch, and he's dealing with the same."
"When you have the two biggest heavyweights going for it on the biggest stage, you are always in for an exciting night. The heavyweight landscape can change in seconds, and it's up to me to keep it on track and not let it change."
If this one does go to the cards, that almost assuredly means Fury will earn the victory. The first fight did end in a draw, but I think Fury will be more aggressive this time around and build up a bigger margin. If Wilder hadn't gotten a 10-8 round in the 12th with his dramatic knockdown, Fury would have earned a win by majority decision, and there would likely be no trilogy.
Wilder may still end up with the night's best punches, but Fury will prove again he's the better all-around talent and win comfortably on the cards, if it comes to that
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL).
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), or call or text the TN REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN).
21+. NJ/PA/WV/IN/IA/CO/IL/TN only. In partnership with Meadows Racetrack & Casino. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.
Tyson Fury, the WBC world heavyweight champion, will defend his title against Deontay Wilder on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
It's the third meeting between the two fighters and one of the biggest bouts in 2021, a year that has seen numerous disruptions to the boxing calendar due to COVID-19 and other factors. The pay-per-view card begins at 9 p.m. ET and can be live-streamed on ESPN+ or the Fox Sports app.
The pair first met in December 2018 when Wilder was the WBC champion and Fury was talking himself up as the lineal heavyweight champion after defeating then-unified champion Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 and hadn't lost since.
Fury (30-0-1, 21 KOs) had struggled with mental health issues after beating Klitschko, but he got his career back on track with a goal of beating Wilder (42-1-1, 41 KOs), as documented in a now-famous training video from 2017. He nearly had the Bronze Bomber the first time around, but he suffered a pair of late knockdowns—including a very dramatic beating of the count in the 12th round—and had to settle for a split draw.
That led to a rematch in February 2020, one that Fury dominated. Wilder couldn't deal with his hand speed and pressure fighting style, and the Gypsy King stunned him early and never let up, earning a technical knockout in the seventh round. It was the first loss of the American's career.
Both fighters have been absent from the ring since that second meeting. The trilogy fight was supposed to happen sooner, but Fury tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this year, pushing the bout back from its original July date.
Can Fury bully the knockout artist once again? Has Wilder done enough in training to create better opportunities for his powerful right hand? Those questions will be answered soon enough. Fury and Wilder are already trading jabs on social media with just days to go until the fight:
Considering the one-sided nature of the second meeting, most seem to think Fury is going to hand Wilder another loss on Saturday.
According to FanDuel, the 33-year-old is a -350 favorite, while the American is a +250 underdog. Assuming everything's gone well in training, Fury, who stands 6'9", has all the physical tools to dominate Wilder again. He has quicker hands, longer arms, great footwork and enough power to keep his 35-year-old opponent on the back foot.
Fury also believes he has a psychological edge. Wilder famously blamed his ring-walk costume for being too heavy and sapping the strength in his legs before the second fight.
However, the British fighter told Keith Idec of Boxing Scene:
"I've never, ever seen a more one-sided beatdown of an undefeated world heavyweight champion than I did to Deontay Wilder in that second fight. So, I'm not sure how I would react if I got absolutely smashed to bits, like he did. But I guarantee it wouldn't be like this, like a child. He's like a kindergarten school child, making excuses why he didn't get tagged. You didn't tag me! And that's what Deontay Wilder is, he's an excuse-maker."
Unless he's managed a complete overhaul of his style, Wilder will almost certainly be biding his time and looking to catch Fury with a right-handed power shot. He sent him to the canvas twice in the first fight, so he knows it's possible to put the big man down, but he has to be careful he doesn't get overwhelmed like he did in the rematch.
Wilder is a dangerous opponent, but he's not as skilled as Fury. Look for a similar outcome to the second meeting.
Prediction: Fury wins by late TKO
Must be 21+ and present in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, West Virginia, Colorado, or Tennessee. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. See sportsbook.fanduel.com for details.
