Deontay Wilder believes Tyson Fury doesn’t have the power to finish him in their highly-anticipated heavyweight rematch next month.
The boxing rivals will meet again on February 22 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas for a re-run of their December 2018 showdown that ended in a controversial split draw.
Fury, who is already in the US to prepare for the rematch, vows to go for the kill as he believes he will not earn a decision win in his opponent’s home country.
“I know I will not get a decision in the US,” Fury told the media in a press conference earlier this month.
“I’m not coming here for a points decision, I’ve had too many of them – nine of them – I’m coming here for a knockout, I’ve had 21 of them and from the heart that’s what I’m looking to do.”
Furthermore, the British heavyweight said Wilder will be finished after two rounds.
Power Over Skills
In a pre-fight press conference last Saturday, the defending WBC heavyweight champion dismisses Fury’s chances of winning by way of knockout.
For Wilder, Fury’s punches are soft like pillows.
“I still think Tyson has pillows as fists,”
“He’s a skillful fighter, though. We can’t have it all. People say I don’t have the skills but I have the punch.”
Wilder’s knockout power came to play in his first fight with Fury.
Down in the scorecards in the early rounds, the American floored the Briton twice in the closing stage to bail himself out from what could be the first defeat in his professional boxing career.
In the last two timeouts, Wilder also used his power to finish Dominic Breazeale and Luis Ortiz to improve his overall record to 41 knockout wins in 43 fights.
Something Else
With Fury expected to rely on his technical skills, the American knockout artist is concerned with the lineal heavyweight champion’s mentality in the ring.
“Who knows. Fury is crazy.”
“One minute he’s one way, then he’s something else.”
“Who knows what he’s gonna do. But if he says he’s gonna do that, all I can do is take him at his word.”
“Like I say, speak it, believe it, receive it. But if you’re coming forward, you’re giving me what I need to knock you out.”
Wilder’s rematch with ‘The Gypsy King’ is his 11th straight title-retention bid since winning the WBC heavyweight strap in 2005.
Will he finish Tyson Fury this time?
(Featured Image Source: Instagram/ Tyson Fury and YouTube/ Fight Hub TV)