Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder to weigh in heavier for rematch as both fighters look for KO in world title fight
TYSON FURY and Deontay Wilder are both planning to gain weight ahead of their rematch.
The heavyweight rivals battle for the WBC title for a second time on February 22 looking to settle the score after their contentious draw in 2018.
For this fight Fury has switched trainers from Ben Davison to Javan ‘Sugar’ Hill and as part of the Stateside switch he hired Conor McGregor’s famed nutritionist George Lockhart.
The Gypsy King, 31, scaled 256½lb (18st 2lb) for the first fight – but after a diet of six meals a day the Brit is looking to fight at around 19st for the rematch.
Fury said: “I haven’t really put weight on on purpose. I’ve just been eating plenty of food. It’s natural weight.
“I’m at my natural weight now, where before I’d be dieting to get down, down, down, get down to like 255, 252. And I’d be eating less and eating hardly nothing for a man of my size.
“George has come in and put me on like 5 or 6,000 calories per day. I’ll be over 10 weeks [in camp] by the time the fight comes around, so I’m very fully prepared and very hydrated and whatever I weigh in now is what I’m naturally at.
“I’ll be well used to the weight by the time it comes around. And it’s a little more imposing as well when I get on the scale [at] 270. He knows he’s gotta push now and shove. It’s hard to keep a man 270 off.
“I’m eating five, six meals per day at the minute. Before, I was like an old-school fighter. I’d eat and drink when I felt hungry or thirsty, and that’s how I did it for years.
“But now there’s a little more science to it, got quite a few more guys who know a bit more than me about it. It’s easy working in training camp, feeling well. I’m nice and heavy, 270 pounds. I’m 270, solid as a rock.”
Wilder only weighed in at 212½lb, his lowest weight in 10 years, before going on to twice floor Fury in Los Angeles.
But the 34-year-old claimed he went as low as 209lb by the time of the fight – giving Fury nearly a three stone advantage.
Wilder’s trainer Jay Deas revealed he wants the Bronze Bomber to scale around the 220lb mark for the Vegas rematch.
He told The PBC Podcast: “I’m hopeful, to answer your question, that Deontay would come in the mid-220s, maybe the low-220s.
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“But I would certainly feel a lot better about that than I would 209. He’s so used to being out-weighed, I think it’s actually probably an advantage.
“The speed is a factor and the speed is, you know, part of the reason he can hit so hard is the power he’s generating does come in part from velocity.
“So, I think a 250lb Deontay Wilder, you know, I don’t think that’s him. I think he’s got an awkward effectiveness and a very kind of unique athleticism, and it probably works best when he’s, you know, 218 to 226.”
