By Gerardo Granados: Next Saturday, December 1st at the Staples Center, Los Angeles, the former undisputed heavyweight Champion of the World Tyson Fury will attempt to regain his kingdom when he fights against the WBC heavyweight titlist Deontay Wilder.
I was asked by a friend to give my take on this fight, as he knows I like both fighters. But, what can I say? What could I write that hasn’t been written yet?
For the ones who like the statistics, this is a title fight between two giants with an average weight of 224 pounds, 6´7” height, and 83” reach for Wilder. For his part, Fury’s average weight is 255 pounds, 6´9” height and 85” reach. These are two undefeated boxers with a record od 40 (39 KO)-0-0 record for Wilder and 27 (19 KO)-0-0 record for Fury.
This will be the eighth title defense for Wilder, whilst as bizarre as it sounds Fury never defended his titles he won against Wladimir Klitschko; also this is Tyson second shot at a major title. This is also the second time Fury fights in the champion’s backyard. The first time was in Germany to defeat Klitschko, and now in the United States of America to challenge Wilder. Two hungry lions determined to conquer Valhalla for their loved ones and to put in chains personal demons.
Two years ago when I saw Fury with a huge beer belly, I thought he was just a happy man enjoying fame and glory. But then Tyson ballooned into around 400 pounds and then I was certain that he would never again regain physical condition to come back into the ring. Damn it, I am so glad I was wrong!
My friend also asked me why I thought Fury wouldn’t be able to come back into fighting shape. I told him that addictions can turn so severe that can cripple your will to do things that you used to do with ease and in this case a boxer could lose interest in training and to stop partying hard isn’t so easy to do when you get hooked. Maybe the reader knows what I am talking about. Perhaps you could agree with me that in reality. We don’t fight the addiction but instead the cause of it.
Depression can take the joy out of your life, on times you can feel it as if it was a monstrous category five hurricane or as a small brief breeze. To be able to beat it requires more than just medication or support from your family, you need determination and must commit to defeat it yourself as it is a monster you can only slain. I am glad that Tyson was able to come out of it.
Deontay Wilder is a kind of fighter on verge of extinction, He reminds me of Jack Dempsey, Sonny Liston and Rocky Marciano. One dimensional boxers with a big punch and heart, but even a bigger killer instinct and determination. We all know that Wilder boxing skills can be improved a lot but his freakish punching power might be a gift of the Gods of war. The Bronze Bomber is a legit one punch KO artist and no one can deny it. For me even with his flawed punching technique, Deontay still is the hardest puncher that I have seen since prime Iron Mike Tyson.
During the build up for the fight I saw a totally confident Fury and a more passive Wilder. That’s the way I saw it, which for me could mean that Tyson could make the mistake of being a little too confident, whilst Deontay is just a little cautious not to engage in mind games.
I wonder how trainer Ben Davison will handle having experienced trainer Freddie Roach in the corner. I think that there are better cut mans out there for Fury to pick and this somehow signals doubts on Fury´s confidence towards Davison on a major fight.
I see Fury using his jab – movement to upset Wilder’s timing and range. Tyson will build an early lead on points and then cruise to a points win. If Wladimir hesitated to engage against Fury,it was because Klitschko was smart enough to notice that Tyson was a superior boxer than him and didn’t risk to be countered by Fury.
Wilder must know that he won’t be able to outbox Fury. Instead, Deontay will wait for a mistake from Fury to land his right hand. Wilder will try to prepare his shot and do what he does best. Wilder will be patient as a hunter and won’t care that much about the score cards because he knows that Fury needs a perfect night to avoid getting tagged once by his right hand. Luis Ortiz proved that Wilder can be out-boxed as well that he proved that Wilder only needs to land once to end a fight.
I have the Gypsy King winning by a clear wide 12 round unanimous decision, but I won’t be surprised if Fury´s cockiness allows the Bronze Bomber to stop him at any moment during their fight. I don’t think that there is much left to say about this fight but to wish that the best man wins. But how about the reader? Do you agree?