BDB Bout Breakdown: WILDER VS FURY (Legends of the Fall)

Heavyweight champions Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury battle each other Saturday night to forge the legend of one king 

At less than one day and a wake up call, the big fight is here!

Colossal undefeated Heavyweight giants Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury exploded in Los Angeles on Wednesday at the final press conference for their WBC Heavyweight World Championship. In less than 24 hours on Showtime PPV, the action will speak louder than all the words, as the two men climb into the ring at Staples Center in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

The world has witnessed the 6-foot-7 Wilder and the 6-foot-9 Fury smile, laugh, snarl and shove over the past several weeks during scheduled promotional encounters. Tension has reached unprecedented heights, in recent years, and now the unbeaten heavyweights will meet to do battle in the most significant heavyweight event in the U.S. in more than 15 years.

The Showtime PPV begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features unified 154-pound world champion Jarrett Hurd returning to take on Jason Welborn, Cuban Heavyweight slugger Luis Ortiz facing-off against Travis Kauffman and rising Heavyweight Joe Joyce battling Joe Hanks.

The Bite Down Boxing team weigh in on what Saturday night could have in store for crazed fight fans.

Eric Duran, Staff Writer

I can usually put aside my personal feelings when breaking down who I believe will win a fight.

But the more that Deontay Wilder speaks, the more I cannot help but want to see him laid out in the center of the ring.

I understand the confidence a fighter of his magnitude needs at this level of the sport but Wilder is going overboard.  In a recent interview with Radio Rahim, Wilder exploded on him for not agreeing with him or applying that ‘racism’ somehow has a narrative in this fight.  His idea that “his” people are still fighting 400 years later has anything to do with the fight saturday is delusional. “His” people weren’t making 7-8 figures during their fight.

Get over yourself, you aren’t that important as proven by the reaction of the Alabama Football teams when you rambled on about who knows what on ‘All-Access’.  It’s all a fake show to try to drive the hype around a fight that doesn’t warrant a $74.99 price tag.

And this actually plays into my beliefs as to why Tyson Fury will be victorious on Saturday night.

Tyson Fury has been here before, on the big stage, in a mega fight.  The persona you see from Fury is pure, that’s who he is. He’s drawn Wilder into his world with the over the top antics, trash talk and machismo.

When Fury stands across from Wilder on Saturday night, he’ll be the first to do so at eye level, with exceptional boxing skills and a style Wilder has never faced.  He’ll do so with the monkey, weight of the world and his past off of his shoulders.

We’ve seen Wilder in a tough fight against Ortiz but we’ve never seen him frustrated or have to adjust inside the ring.  I think both will happen on Saturday night and it will play into Fury winning a close, at times, competitive fight. Fury’s jab, move and clinch style will prevail in the end.

Prediction: Fury

Queen City Boxing, Staff Writer 

Wilder coming in at 212-pounds, lower than his weight against Ortiz. This tells me Wilder is training for a long fight. Fury’s feints and jab will keep Wilder second guessing, and that right hand thrown wildly. The longer the fight goes on the more it favors Fury. Fury will figure out Wilder’s tells and keep that right hand missing most of the night.

Wilder has to mix up his game plan for the fight. I’m hoping to see some straight right hands to the body since he’s fighting a taller fighter. Although I can see a Fury UD the longer the fight goes on, I do think Wilder will eventually find a home for that right hand. He’s always found it and tonight I see the same thing happening. Wilder by KO in the championship rounds

Prediction: Wilder 

R.L. Woodson, Editor-in-Chief

I’d really like to write or suggest there’s some mystery here, that come Sunday morning we could all be basking in an undeniably stirring Cinderella Man story. One with Tyson Fury fully reclaiming his boxing status after succumbing to his own great depression a couple of years ago after defeating long-reigning champion Vladimir Klitschko. As of right now the only remnant of that victory is Fury’s lineal Heavyweight champion status. And cut…

Alabama’s Deontay Wilder exits the ring Saturday night with his WBC crown and the coveted lineal title as well. Even after taking in Showtime’s compelling All Access series, I just haven’t seen enough live boxing action from the Gypsy King to say Fury can pull this thing off and make a way out of, what was a year ago, no way.

I know about Fury holding all of the other Heavyweight belts before his fall. I know about his movement and ring IQ. I’m aware he can switch stances and possibly buy himself the time southpaw Luis Ortiz did early in Wilder’s last title defense. I recall Wilder’s swollen left eye after his bout with Johann Duhaupas. I watched Wilder stall out through the first few rounds against Gerald Washington. I get it that a severely dehydrated Bermane Stiverne went the distance with Wilder. I also believe Fury’s resolve, and everything he’s overcome to make it to the weigh-in, could steady him against Wilder’s power. I respect Fury’s craft, and the fact that he’s standing here at this point in his life.

On Saturday night Fury’s first objective is to give Wilder looks that keep the champion in an information gathering mode for a minimum of two rounds. Whether it’s a busy and accurate jab, choppy body movement or his excellent footwork Fury must have a great start against an opponent who will be looking to land the shot heard around the world. Just like college football’s Ohio State Buckeyes, Oklahoma Sooners and Georgia Bulldogs this weekend Wilder badly needs style points for the business that potentially lies beyond this bout.

If Fury successfully makes his way through a few rounds and establishes a rhythm we can get to what I see as the real gold in this Heavyweight mega-fight: the fury borne out of a desperate Wilder. Frankly, I’m not a fan of Wilder’s boxing ability, but after surviving a brutal late seventh round assault from Ortiz back in March, I believe it truly solidified Wilder’s belief that he is a fearless, resilient warrior – and defeat is beyond comprehension.

If Fury is able to stay even on the judges’ cards or have a slight lead after the midway point, I expect Wilder to abandon the long division, and to just use the answers scribbled in his right hand. Guess that’s hard to do when you have to show your work. Being that this is Wilder, who knows how the right hand gets delivered, but I find it hard to believe that – after a pair of meaningless comeback bouts versus Sefer Seferi and Francesco Pianeta – Fury can remain sharp for 10-11 rounds against the Bronze Bomber. If he does, he very likely could get his hand raised in what appeared to be an inconceivable upset.

Prediction: Wilder KO9

All photos by Esther Lin/Showtime