The long-awaited trilogy is finally here, as Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder fight for the third time this weekend. And it’s really exciting.
As you may remember, the first time around, back in 2018, saw Fury surviving two late knockdowns from Wilder. The second fight saw a Fury on a mission and by the 7th round the fight was over.
Then, following some serious legal sparring between these two camps, Wilder finally got his way for the third and final fight – which will provide the closing chapter in this rivalry.
However, Fury wasn’t impress to learn that the was on and he’s expected to make Wilder to pay for forcing him to miss out on a proposed clash with AJ, which is really what he wanted.
Wilder utilised a clause triggering a third fight with the Gypsy King, which is the reason Usyk stepped in to claim Joshua’s WBA, IBF and WBO belts.
WBC champion Fury will now be fired up to make sure he doesn’t also suffer a surprise defeat. And although Fury is the bookies favourite at 1/3, since these two fighters last met, Wilder has completely change the way he fight – moving away from that ‘one trick right hand punch pony’ – and I do believe that Fury will have to try a lot harder this time around.
Wilder will be clinging on to the belief that he can hurt Fury, having come agonisingly close to knocking him out in their initial contest.
The Bronze Bomber floored his rival in the ninth round and then sent him crashing hard to the canvas in the 12th via a right-left combination.
Fury’s recovery will go down in boxing folklore as one of the most dramatic episodes in ring history.
Promoter Frank Warren has warned the Gypsy King not to be drawn into any complacency, though.
He told BT Sport: “Tyson should come through but he can’t afford to become complacent, as Wilder is with a new trainer.
“But I just look at his age and wonder what can he do different?
“Can he outbox Tyson? No. Can he outpunch Tyson? He’s a very dangerous and big puncher but Tyson’s been on the floor twice in the first fight and got up.
“Can he take Tyson’s power? No. Tyson stopped him, had him all over the place in the last fight.
“Is he going to turn into a great boxer? I don’t know but he’s a dangerous puncher, so I’ll say again that Tyson can’t be complacent.”
Both fighters will be coming off 19-month lay-offs, as this contest had to be rearranged from July after Fury tested positive for coronavirus, so that could lead to some ring-rust early on and then a slightly cagey contest.
It’s safe to say that anything can happen in this fight, which is what makes it so exciting and it’ll most certainly be a much better and more competitive fight.
The odds are in Fury’s favour – he’s 1/3 whereas Wilder is 9/4 – but Wilder has change a lot, and much thanks to his new trainer, he’s a better boxer. Having said that. As the saying goes, you can’t teach old dogs new tricks so it may just be a little too little a little too late.
What will be interesting to see if Wilder defaults back to his old habits with that big right hand as the round goes on – and that’s when Fury may just get him.
Fury vs Wilder 3 betting odds
Fury to win: 1/3
Wilder to win: 9/4
Draw: 25/1
Fury to win via decision/technical decision: 11/4
Fury to win by KO/TKO or DQ: 10/11
Wilder to win via decision/technical decision: 19/1
Wilder to win by KO/TKO or DQ: 13/5
Odds via BestofBets.com (subject to change)
