DEONTAY WILDER [42-0-1, 41KOs] AND Tyson Fury [29-0-1, 20KOs] didn’t have a weight limit when they took to the scales in Las Vegas last night ahead of their WBC World heavyweight title rematch, but each man still managed to raise eyebrows.
Challenger Fury weighed in at 273 pounds — over a stone (16lbs) heavier than he was for their controversial draw in December 2018, and the second heaviest he has ever been on the eve of a professional fight.
Champion Wilder, meanwhile, came in at a career-heaviest 231 pounds — a stone and a half (18.5lbs) heavier than he was for the original clash.
‘The Bronze Bomber’ still looked to be in an impressive condition aesthetically, ripped and ready for destruction at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, where he meets the former unified heavyweight champion for a hugely anticipated sequel.
‘The Gypsy King’ didn’t remove his tank top at the weigh-in, raising questions as to what sort of shape he’s in beneath it. Fury, however, had repeatedly stated his intention to weigh in at around the 270-pound mark, while his cousin and co-trainer Andy Lee told Second Captains on Friday that the giant Brit was tracking to tip the scales well north of 265.
Fury has added renowned nutritionist George Lockhart to his team for a lengthy training camp in Nevada. Not known to care much for aesthetics, Lockhart has worked with UFC star Conor McGregor as well as a host of elite-level mixed martial artists.
As confirmed on Wednesday night, there would be no penultimate face-to-face encounter between Wilder and Fury due to their handbags at Wednesday’s presser. In front of a notably pro-Fury crowd, the pair instead eyeballed each other and traded threats from a safe distance before going their separate ways.
This fight is too big too miss. #WilderFury is going to be special 🔥#NoFilterBoxing went behind the scenes at yesterday's electric weigh-ins. The Gypsy King's army has taken over Las Vegas 👑 pic.twitter.com/FtcNzWXRwl
— Boxing on BT Sport 🥊 (@BTSportBoxing) February 22, 2020
Wilder-Fury II will take place in the wee hours of Sunday morning Irish time, and is available to purchase on BT Sport Box Office.
Andy Dunne and Murray Kinsella join Gavan Casey to tee you up for Sunday’s big one. The lads try to figure out where the winning and losing of the game will be, field a The42 member’s question as to what extent the media plays a role in Ireland’s performance, and Andy explains why Henry Tuilagi haunts his dreams at night.
The42 Rugby Weekly / SoundCloud
Despite the heavier weight, I still dont believe Fury is going into this fight trying to knock Wilder out. It’s just not his style, expect him to aim for a points decision under the less shady Vegas judges.
@James O’ Connor: it’s only heavier than the last Wilder fight, he’s been this weight before and it didn’t seem to slow him down at all, he seems very capable of dancing round the ring at this weight, Wilder though has never come in this heavy so it’ll be interesting to see if and how it affects him, Wilder was the lightest since his debut in the first fight and is the heaviest in his career for this one so it’ll be worth watching
@John Black: I’m wondering is it more his natural weight, I can remember his father complaining about his diets with the last trainer, saying he didn’t have the energy and something wasn’t quite right. Will be interesting to see how he is in the latter stages of the bout.
@John Black: I think in the first fight he thought his speed would be too much for Fury and possibly underestimated how technical he is, this fight it’s his power he’s going to lean on to keep Fury down when he knocks him down.
I like Fury and the Irish connection, I’d like to see him win but Wilder is just a superior athlete in my opinion and the more exciting fighter also, if he stays aggressive I think he can put him away whereas Fury’s only road to victory is boxing at range and a decision win which isn’t the prettiest to watch.
It’s all deception and mind games from Fury’s camp in terms of going for the ko. All things being equal he should win this fight in a routine points victory as he’s in the absolute shape of his life and has the clear technical advantage, however if Wilder opens his cut early through good use of the jab (big if) It’s then obviously a totally different fight and very unlikely to go 12
@Facundo: nail on the head here
It would be good practice for non American journalist to place the weight in a non-moronic system in brackets next to it. Googling the metric equivalent is a pain
@SomeGuy: don’t we use stone in ireland too?
by right he shouldn’t have fought wilder so early after his come back the shape he was in his father and fomer trainer uncle told him take s few more warm ups but he still won the fight if it wernt for the judges .know he’s in prime shape .either he stops wilder which he i believe he can he has shown power before body shots wear him down then punish his clumsy style/or wilder opens up that cut love to see fury win .then Joshua fury wilder fights the winner
Anyone have any idea how to watch this fight? Don’t have access to BT box office through virgin media
@Fergus O’Connor: I’m sure Facebook will have a live stream
@Fergus O’Connor: cricfree
@Fergus O’Connor: You can watch it on BT sport box office online
@Fergus O’Connor:
You can also Chromecast it onto your TV via the bt sport box office app… or sleep in til 7am and simply Google video search “wilder fury full fight” to watch it back for free , daily motion, allthebestfights and mmacore very handy for the big fight replays on a Sunday morning