With one of the year’s most anticipated showdowns around the corner, Wilder vs Fury continues to split public opinion. The Heavyweight headliner, airing on Showtime and BT Sport PPV, brings together reigning WBC champ Deontay Wilder and former unified champ Tyson Fury.

The marketing pot boils over thanks to unbeaten records, Wilder’s throwback knockout artistry, and, of course, Fury’s exuberance and verbal savagery. It’s a legacy fight wearing the tagline ‘power vs skill’ – but that’s just the beginning of the discussion. You can check out the Undercard here.

Wilder vs Fury

Deontay Wilder

Record: 40-0, 39 KO … Age: 33 … Height 6’ 7” … Reach: 83” … Stance: Orthodox

Many folks seemingly live to criticise the ‘Bronze Bomber’, an athletic, formidable – and quite frankly terrifying – powerhouse who’s racked up a 98% KO rate. There’s more to Wilder than power and killer instinct, but those distinct assets are the reason he’s become such a tantalizing crowd-puller in the Heavyweight ranks.

Here’s a look at Wilder’s best opposition to date:

• Luis Ortiz – TKO 10 (2018)
• Bermane Stiverne – UD 12 (2015), KO 1 (2017)
• Gerald Washington – TKO 5 (2017)
• Artur Szpilka – KO 9 (2016)
• Malik Scott – KO 1 (2014)

Every fighter has critics, but Wilder’s stick like industrial-strength-super-glue-coated leeches. To his greatest detractors, Wilder is a mere novelty act; an unpolished, flawed banger who owes his career to a dynamite right hand. I was once in the same boat, doubtful of Wilder’s hype and ceiling until I gradually began to notice a few nuances in his game.

Wilder’s first win over WBC champ Bermane Stiverne proved he was capable of fighting a controlled, well paced 12-rounder, and wins over Artur Szpilka and Luis Ortiz showcased patience and a sneaky counter-right hand. Following a hellacious 8th stanza versus Ortiz, Wilder also dispelled the notion that he lacked the grit and whisker density to battle his way out of the trenches.

Wilder has flaws, sure, but he’s exciting and keeps winning. You just can’t turn away from that freakish power and ‘don’t blink’ danger. As for all those ‘wind-milling’ punches his critics bang on about, I’m not sure it really matters. The man consistently knocks people out with those punches, and it’s a finishing style that makes him distinguishable from fellow favorites like Ortiz and Anthony Joshua. If it ain’t broke, why fix it?

Tyson Fury

Record: 27-0, 19 KO … Age: 30 … Height 6’ 9” … Reach: 83” … Stance: Switch-Hitter

Fury’s fighting style is the polar opposite of Wilder. Generally weighing around 255 lbs, there’s no doubt weight behind Fury’s punches, but he isn’t considered a notably big puncher. Against his best opposition, the ‘Gypsy King’ hasn’t looked overly devastating, instead applying a more cautious, slippery, awkward boxing style, usually leading to decisions rather than clean knockouts.

Here’s a look at Fury’s best opposition to date:

• Wladimir Klitschko – UD 12 (2015)
• Dereck Chisora – UD 12 (2011), RTD 10 (2014)
• Steve Cunningham – KO 7 (2013)
• Kevin Johnson – UD 12 (2012)
• Christian Hammer – RTD 8 (2015)

For me, Fury’s career has been a bit of a mixed, somewhat deceptively unsatisfying mixed bag, even with the Klitschko scalp on record. And at the risk of upsetting his legion of diehard fans, I’d go as far as to say that Fury is more overhyped than Wilder, based on what Fury’s achieved so far. I often wonder what is louder: Tyson’s performances or his exceptional self-promoting?

A couple of wins over Dereck Chisora, a fan-friendly challenger who usually gets found out at the deep end, isn’t really all that impressive. Steve Cunningham was a pumped up Cruiser (who actually dropped and hurt the 44-pound heavier Fury), and Kevin Johnson and Christian Hammer are, well, mid-tier operators at best.

As for the Klitschko fight, it’s hard to express exactly how I feel. Yes, I have to acknowledge the result: Fury did win a Unanimous Decision. And I don’t have a problem with that outcome. However, while I agree that Fury should be praised for the way he shut down/neutralized Klitschko’s offense – and probably confidence – I can’t agree that Tyson looked great or anything like an elite that night.

After capturing Klitschko’s WBA, WBO, IBF titles, Fury wouldn’t return for 31 months (due to battles with mental illness and drug abuse, followed by a positive doping result from a February 2015 sample). Fury dominated Sefer Seferi and Francesco Pianeta in June and August in fights marginally more interesting than the Klitschko snoozer. ‘Rust-shaking’ tune-ups or not, they were pretty awful viewing.

Prediction

This bout should answer all the burning questions. What does Fury have left? Does he belong in the Heavyweight deep end? And is Wilder really just a big right hand with legs? You can never write off a supremely confident guy like Fury, who may have a few secrets left to show, but I’m going with the ruthless puncher.

Wilder’s got the better momentum, athletic edge, and has 36 minutes to land that one big shot, bringing down the curtain. If, for the sake of argument, we call Fury the more skilful guy, I still see Wilder’s rawness, speed and rage being enough to overcome that skill gap. We’ve seen it before, with guys like George Foreman (the young version) destroying guys with superior craft, and unpredictable fighters like Ricardo Mayorga (vs Vernon Forest comes to mind) also ‘overachieving’.

It may take Wilder a few rounds to adjust to Fury’s awkwardness and height, but it’s doubtful Wilder will slip into Klitschko’s ‘deer-in-the-headlights’ state. We’ve also got to factor in Fury’s inactivity and lifestyle problems over the past few years. The impact on his body, however great or small, is a concern for me.

And what’s with Fury taking on Wilder right away? If Fury is genuinely throwing caution to wind to prove his greatness then I’ve got tons of respect for him (in an era where most A-sides operate under the unbeaten-record-protection model). But my cynicism whispers in my ear: Is Fury jumping ahead to this fight because he realises that he’s lost a step? Is this just a quick cash-grab move?

For me, Wilder has a telling edge in punch sharpness and fitness, and I expect him to start tagging a tiring, heavily pressured Fury around the middle rounds, with a knockout imminent. If Fury is dropped, I just can’t see him recovering. Not because Fury lacks the heart and courage, but because, well, the untamed beast in Wilder doesn’t know how to let people off the hook.

Playing devil’s advocate, I could see Fury winning if he’s able to fight a very controlled, disciplined 12-rounder, pinching rounds. If he can keep Wilder off-balance and take away his right hand (while being wary of that sneaky counter-right), this road may lead to the upset. Fury would likely have to keep Wilder honest by trading punches here and there, but I’d say getting involved in an actual shootout would end in disaster.

Prediction: Wilder by 7th round KO

Well, there it is, folks. Do you agree with my Fury vs Wilder prediction? Or are you backing the ‘Gypsy King’ to become a two-time champion by dethroning Heavyweight boxing’s baddest man? Cast your predictions below.