by Ben Burns
Friday, Oct 08, 2021On Sunday, Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury will fight for the third time. It's been roughly a year and a half since Fury dominated Wilder. Their first meeting, back in December of 2018, resulted in a draw. Wilder was a fairly big favorite for that first fight. However, Fury is an even bigger one for Saturday night's bout. Let's take a closer look.
Wilder/Fury I
Wilder was favored in the -180 to -200 range. The judges scored it 115–111 for Wilder, 114–112 for Fury and 113–113; a split draw. However, when 27 boxing journalists were polled, fifteen gave the fight to Fury and only three had it going to Wilder. Nine scored it a draw.
These two had been talking trash about each other for years. Fury confronted Wilder after he won a fight in 2016 in NY and said: "any time any place anywhere when you're ready, I'll fight you in your back garden like I did Klitschko I'll beat you, you bum! You're a bum!" Wilder responded: "I don't play this, you can run around like you're a preacher and all that but I promise you when you step in this ring I will baptize you!"
The fighters had a combined 67-0 record when they finally met. Fury weighed in at 256 1/2 pounds. Wilder was 212 1/2. Afterward, both fighters claimed to have won. Each called out Anthony Joshua after that fight. In an interesting twist, Joshua recently lost and now Fury has offered to train him for his rematch against Usyk.
Wilder/Fury II
The odds were closer for the rematch but the fight was not. Hyped as "Unfinished Business," it appeared clear that things had been settled. The odds opened more in the pick'em range but Wilder closed as a -140 favorite. That didn't phase Fury. He took it to Wilder, knocking him down twice before Wilder's corner eventually threw in the towel, in the seventh round. While Wilder would go on to fire the cornerman who threw in the towel, he was getting pummelled.
Wilder won't go away though. Back with a new trainer, he insists that things will be different. He's got a huge ego and has all sorts of excuses for why he lost. One has to wonder what his confidence will be like though. Deep inside, he knows that he lost. Not surprisingly, Fury is now the significant favorite. He's currently laying close to -300. Takeback is roughly +240 with Wilder.
With the recent trend of "YouTube stars" fighting over-the-hill fighters, it will be good to see a couple of legitimate heavyweights. Enjoy the fight!
Wilder/Fury I
Wilder was favored in the -180 to -200 range. The judges scored it 115–111 for Wilder, 114–112 for Fury and 113–113; a split draw. However, when 27 boxing journalists were polled, fifteen gave the fight to Fury and only three had it going to Wilder. Nine scored it a draw.
These two had been talking trash about each other for years. Fury confronted Wilder after he won a fight in 2016 in NY and said: "any time any place anywhere when you're ready, I'll fight you in your back garden like I did Klitschko I'll beat you, you bum! You're a bum!" Wilder responded: "I don't play this, you can run around like you're a preacher and all that but I promise you when you step in this ring I will baptize you!"
The fighters had a combined 67-0 record when they finally met. Fury weighed in at 256 1/2 pounds. Wilder was 212 1/2. Afterward, both fighters claimed to have won. Each called out Anthony Joshua after that fight. In an interesting twist, Joshua recently lost and now Fury has offered to train him for his rematch against Usyk.
Wilder/Fury II
The odds were closer for the rematch but the fight was not. Hyped as "Unfinished Business," it appeared clear that things had been settled. The odds opened more in the pick'em range but Wilder closed as a -140 favorite. That didn't phase Fury. He took it to Wilder, knocking him down twice before Wilder's corner eventually threw in the towel, in the seventh round. While Wilder would go on to fire the cornerman who threw in the towel, he was getting pummelled.
Wilder won't go away though. Back with a new trainer, he insists that things will be different. He's got a huge ego and has all sorts of excuses for why he lost. One has to wonder what his confidence will be like though. Deep inside, he knows that he lost. Not surprisingly, Fury is now the significant favorite. He's currently laying close to -300. Takeback is roughly +240 with Wilder.
With the recent trend of "YouTube stars" fighting over-the-hill fighters, it will be good to see a couple of legitimate heavyweights. Enjoy the fight!
