Conventional wisdom suggests history will repeat itself when Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder recommence hostilities at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on July 24.
In their February 2020 rematch, Fury simply steamrollered a shellshocked Wilder, scoring two knockdowns en route to an emphatic seventh-round victory. Unsurprisingly, the bookmakers heavily favour the ‘Gypsy King’ in the July 24 trilogy bout with BetFred pegging Fury as a strong 3/10 favourite with Wilder a 5/2 outsider and the draw at 25-1.
But Wilder’s new trainer Malik Scott believes that he and the ‘Bronze Bomber’ have forged a winning combination, and the Alabama puncher will shock the world and wrest back his WBC crown in five weeks’ time.
“Deontay and I have always had a chemistry and a brotherhood between us,” said Scott. “Before we talked about moving forward with me as his trainer, I wanted to make sure we had the same chemistry as trainer and fighter that we had with our brotherhood. Our chemistry as fighter and trainer by far passes it. I’m impressed with how he’s adapted.
“I believe that with a fighter like Deontay, who has naturally raw power, combined with my technically sound background, we just match well together. Deontay has made the mental adjustments. All I needed was a receptive athlete. He’s already made the adjustments to do whatever I need him to do in that ring.
“I only see this fight going one way. If you just let Fury do what he wants, he’ll do way more than what you want. I have no doubt that Deontay will become the two-time heavyweight champion of the world and it will come by knockout.”
Wilder, who shared a controversial draw with Fury in December 2018, receives the opportunity after an arbitration ruling backed his claim for a previously contracted third fight. WBC champion Fury had hoped to battle WBA Super, WBO and IBF title holder Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia in August. Joshua will now meet WBO No.1 contender Oleksandr Usyk in September.
Main image: Sean Michael Ham/TGB Promotions.