Deontay Wilder vs Tyson Fury: The Race to the Lineal Crown
We’re here! The showdown between WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (40-0 39 KOs) and former lineal champion Tyson Fury (27-0, 19 KOs) kicks off December 1 on Showtime PPV. This event is full of high drama and will provide clarity to the heavyweight landscape going into 2019.
For the WBC champion, this fight all but guarantees he will fight WBA, WBO, IBF champ Anthony Joshua next year in a super-fight. A victory over Fury also serves to further validate his heavyweight title reign with consecutive wins over fighters considered to be in top four of the division. For Wilder, this is a must-win fight. A defeat would literally equate to a two year setback at minimum.
For Fury, this fight can catapult him to the forefront of the heavyweight division and would also guarantee him a fight against fellow countryman Anthony Joshua. A victory here would also mark what would be a historic comeback. Fury then went on to gain a lot of weight during a two year hiatus. The former champion has since resolved these issues and is on a two-fight winning streak.
Ring Perspective
Stylistically, this fight should be high drama; a classic boxer vs puncher match-up. Fury, a pure boxer, can be very awkward and unorthodox. The crafty Brit has an excellent one-two and very good footwork that compliments his feints.
Wilder picked up boxing at a late age, and it shows in his style. His gift is his transcendent power. in which one punch can literally leave his opponents twitching on the canvas. The Tuscaloosa fighter is also known for being unrefined in skill, extremely wild, and can get sloppy.
In this cat and mouse game there are three dynamics at play. First is the jab game. The Gypsy King has a polished jab that he varies. Wilder simply has a hard whip of a jab that he inconsistently utilizes.
Next is footwork. Fury has amazing bounce for such a large man and can move both laterally and vertically. Wilder is probably the most athletic heavyweight on the planet and can move in and out faster than his rivals. He does struggle with pivots, however, and this will be apparent vs Fury.
Last and most compelling, the lineal champ’s chin vs Wilder’s power. Evidence points to Fury not being able to withstand Wilder’s power. The Gypsy King has been knocked down by Steve Cunningham, whom he outweighed by nearly fifty pounds. This doesn’t bode well against Wilder.
In conclusion, the British technician should easily win rounds against the Bronze Bomber. The real question is, “can he avoid getting clipped with a big shot?” Wilder has shown that even with a skills deficit, he’s hard to avoid for thirty six minutes. Regardless of who you favor, there’s a case for either man to win the fight.
By: Corey Cunningham
