Tyson Fury may have dominated a shellshocked Deontay Wilder in their February 2020 rematch, but the ‘Gypsy King’ is taking nothing for granted in their trilogy clash in three weeks’ time.
After appearing to win their first encounter (D12) with his superior boxing skillset in December 2018, Fury switched tack and employed pressure and aggression in the return last year. Wilder folded under the onslaught, tasting the canvas twice before then-trainer Mark Breland threw in the towel in the seventh. The ‘Bronze Bomber’ then threw Breland under the bus as he blamed the trainer and a number of often bizarre excuses for the loss including glove tampering, spiked water and a heavy ringwalk outfit.
After an arbitrator ruled that Fury must fulfil a previously contracted third fight with Wilder, they meet again at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on July 24. WBC champion Fury says he will look to repeat his successful strategy from the rematch, but won’t underestimate his American rival despite his supremacy last time around.
“I’ve done nothing wrong, I just continue to do what I do. Keep moving forward and landing pressure on him, landing big punches – he’s the one that’s coming off a knockout loss and one-sided fight,” Fury told journalist Gareth Davies.
“He’s the one who’s got to tell himself all these reasons why he lost and sack everybody on his team and blame everybody and point the finger.
“If you’re an alcoholic or drugs addict, the only way you can actually move on from that is acceptance. He still hasn’t moved on from defeat, that’s what I think is happening with Wilder. But he’s not to be underestimated, he’s got nothing to lose and everything to gain.”
Main image: Sean Michael Ham/TGB Promotions.