Current WBC heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury to face the former champion Deontay Wilder in anticipated third fight
Fighting for glory and legacy, regardless of the challenges ahead – this is what heavyweight boxing has always been about. Since the days of Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson, champions have risen and fallen, bounced back from defeat, and reclaimed their titles through hard work, dedication, and display of heart.
Such has been the case with Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury, who have already faced off twice at the World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight gold championships. With the most recent fight dethroning Wilder and crowning Fury as the new champion, the pressure is on once again for both fighters as their third match at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada takes place on Oct. 9.
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When the two fought for the first time in 2018, all odds were against Fury, who was coming back from a long layoff after relinquishing his previous belts due to issues with substance abuse and mental health. Wilder, on the other hand, had a perfect professional record, smoothly making his way through competitions in the division and being regarded as one of the greatest heavyweights of the modern era. However, when the bells rang and it was just the two fighters in the ring, it soon became obvious to Wilder that Fury was no one to underestimate. From going toe-to-toe throughout the fight, to Fury dropping from a heavy shot in the last round only to spring back up from the canvas as if brought back from the dead, the fight was chaotic. In the end though, it was a close one, and the match was officially declared a draw by the judges.
To settle disputes of who the better man was during the first fight, Fury and Wilder decided to run it back for a second time in 2020. This time, Fury was more prepared and better trained. Meanwhile, Wilder seemed to come in a bit more cocky with the expectation to shut down haters and prove that he indeed deserved to remain the champion. Underestimation took a more major toll on Wilder this time as he was stunned early in the fight, was unable to recollect himself, and ultimately lost to Fury via a technical knockout.
Now, Fury is the new WBC title holder, and Wilder has been out of the picture for a long time. There was talk of scheduling a title unification bout between Fury and Anthony Joshua, who held the remaining four belts in heavyweight boxing. However, Joshua lost all his belts to the new Ukrainian champion and underdog, Oleksandr Usyk, and Wilder went and exercised his legal right to rematch with Fury.
This unexpected turn of events brings more excitement to what’s ahead and sparks discussion as to what Wilder and Fury each need to prioritize.
Wilder should have trained properly to improve his game plan and to ensure he doesn’t get a repeat of what went wrong last time. With his expertise in accurately timing power shots to knock out opponents, Wilder is halfway there in terms of a bulletproof game plan; he simply needs to be more considerate of odd movements during the early rounds of the fight. He also needs to know how to distribute his energy across 12 rounds. The latter is of great importance as Fury’s stamina is hard to beat, and opponents are often forced to chase after him, leading to major energy depletion.
Fury, on the other hand, needs to keep up his previous strategy of overwhelming Wilder with a great volume of shots and maintaining his range using smart footwork. This way, he’ll hit his opponent but will also be able to get away when needed, such that he avoids Wilder’s deadly shots at all costs. As well, Usyk will be watching his future opponent from a distance. An extremely talented, wise, and technical champion, Usyk will present his own challenges to either one of the WBC contenders when the time comes for a unification bout.
Come Saturday night, we are all in for yet another iconic night in boxing. With so much at stake for heavyweight glory, be prepared for a wonderful display of technique, courage, and heart. In the words of Rocky Balboa, “that’s how winning is done.”
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