Why Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder will BOTH weigh in heavier for huge rematch
THE eyes of the world are on Las Vegas as Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder go head-to-head once again.
Two of the most charismatic and talented heavyweights of their era, the WBC world title belt is on the line as the pair scrap it out in Las Vegas.
In their first meeting, Fury twice hit the canvas in a dramatic LA draw – but was unlucky not to scrap a decision on the judges scorecards.
With the rematch all set for February 22, both fighters are reportedly bulking up ahead of what is the first big title fight of the new decade.
Why will Fury weigh in heavier?
HAVING parted ways with former trainer Ben Davidson, Fury is now under the guidance of Javan ‘Sugar’ Hill.
The Gypsy King, 31, scaled 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.
And the Mancunian believes that by returning to a more natural weight, he’ll be harder for the Bronze Bomber to shove around or knock down.
Fury explained: “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.
“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.”
But Fury’s former trainer Ben Davidson isn’t completely convinced that bulking up and going for a knockout blow is the best course of action.
He said: “In the first fight Tyson boxed around Deontay Wilder but he did not go at him.
“But 99 per cent of the boxing world believes that he won that fight.
“So I understand, from Tyson’s point of view, why he thinks ‘I outboxed him last time but I did not get the decision so I have to try and take it out of the judges’ hands’.
“Tyson has been talking a lot about going for the knockout and people should definitely not write off the idea of him doing that.
“It’s not the exactly the approach I would plan on taking but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong.”
Why will Wilder put on more weight?
WILDER gave Fury a near THREE stone advantage in their first fight.
The Bronze Bomber only weighed in at 212½lb – his lowest in a decade – before going on to twice floor Fury in Los Angeles.
Wilder’s trainer Jay Deas revealed he wants the Bronze Bomber to scale around the 220lb mark for the Vegas rematch.
But he doesn’t want Wilder to bulk up so much that he sacrifices his terrific speed, simply for power – especially as we all know that the American possesses that in abundance already.
Deas told The PBC Podcast: “I’m hopeful that Deontay would [weigh] in the mid-220s, maybe the low-220s.
“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.
Wilder confirmed: “Yeah, we gonna adjust the weight.
“I never worried about weight because I have the power to substitute for it. I have devastating power that these guys don’t have.
“So I never worried about weight, because I felt like weight is just an image.
“My team wants me to do it [gain weight], and we work as a team.”
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When is Fury vs Wilder 2?
A date has finally been set for the long-awaited rematch after nearly a year of
Both camps have accused the other of stalling, but we now know for sure that the two fighters will do battle once again.
Fury vs Wilder 2 is all set for Saturday, February 22.
It will be shown live on BT Sport Box Office in the UK, with coverage starting at 11pm and the fight itself sometime around 4am.