Can Tyson Fury stun Deontay Wilder in heavyweight showdown?
On December 1st the world will be watching on as Britain’s Tyson Fury steps up to challenge current WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, in what is one of the most anticipated fights of the year so far.
A blockbuster showdown between unified champion Anthony Joshua and Wilder has long been speculated, but sadly that’s as far as proceedings have gone, causing much frustration among boxing fans worldwide.
But, while those negotiations stalled, Tyson Fury capitalised and showed no hesitation in jumping in and challenging the unbeaten world heavyweight champion on American soil. Fury is now set to face off against the intimidating knockout artist at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California on December 1st.
Deontay Wilder by Layton Dudley (CC BY-SA 2.0)
It’s the American who will enter the ring as the odds-on 4/6 favourite to successfully defend his world heavyweight title in the Deontay Wilder vs Tyson Fury betting at William Hill, with the British challenger set to begin proceedings as the 13/10 underdog.
But the underdog tag will be of no worry to Fury, who has relished such a label on many occasions already throughout his long professional career.
Most notably he was cast as the huge outsider when preparing to battle the longest reigning heavyweight champion in history, Ukrainian legend Wladimir Klitschko.
Back in November 2015, Fury travelled to the Espirit Arena in Germany to contest ‘Dr Steelhammer’ for his unified heavyweight crowns, including all of the WBA ‘Super’, IBF, WBO, IBO, Ring Magazine and lineal titles.
The Manchester-born challenger had been given little chance by the widespread public going into such a daunting and testing bout. But it was evident from the early stages after the opening bell on German soil, that Fury had the mental edge over his Ukrainian rival.
The build-up to that clash had seen Fury provide Klitschko with a unique approach that even he had never witnessed before and it worked wonders as the Ukrainian looked rattled throughout the awaited encounter.
In front of a partisan crowd, Fury brilliantly neutralised Klitschko’s arsenal and ultimately rallied to an incredible unanimous decision triumph to become the unified heavyweight champion of the world. But what followed the achieving of a life goal was a worrying spiral out of control in his private life.
Fury later went through an extremely tough period in his life, battling addictions and mental health as he was absent from the ring for around two years, after vacating his previously earned heavyweight crowns.
But he returned to the squared-circle this year with routine wins over inferior opposition Sefer Seferi and Francesco Pianeta, stopping the Albanian on his comeback in four rounds then easing to a unanimous decision over the latter in Belfast last August on the Carl Frampton undercard in Belfast.
Next up is a huge step up in class as he faces Wilder, a devastating KO puncher who has halted every man he has faced in his pro career to date. Can Fury rediscover the magic that helped him overcome Klitschko? Or will the lack of activity and previous layoff prove his undoing?
Wilder will be aiming for one conclusion to this fight and that’s a decisive stoppage. But Fury has the tools to outpoint him over 12 frustrating rounds. But, having been away for so long beforehand and against a more active, undefeated champion, he is in for the biggest night of his career.
