Deontay Wilder v Tyson Fury 2: fight preview, odds, prediction and boxing tips

Free boxing tips, best bets and fight prediction for Deontay Wilder v Tyson Fury 2, for the WBC world heavyweight title at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Where to watch

BT Sport Box Office from midnight Saturday
(Main event start 5am approx)

Best bets

Tyson Fury
2pts Evs general
Back this tip with Paddy Power here

Tyson Fury to win in rounds seven to 12
1pt 9-1 Betway

Deontay Wilder v Tyson Fury 2 fight preview

World heavyweight title fights are often hyped up more than any other sporting event but the transatlantic buzz surrounding WBC champion Deontay Wilder's rematch with lineal champion Tyson Fury may be entirely justified with every outcome seemingly possible in this Las Vegas pick 'em contest for the ages.

It’s a true 50-50, with both giants even money in the betting during fight week and another draw is a 25-1 shot. Pundits and fans are split down the middle, with everyone having a theory as to what will happen, and any of them could be right.

Most predictions fall into two camps. Either Fury produces a boxing masterclass and wins on points or Wilder lands his Alabama Hammer and this time nails the Gypsy King to the floor.

Both situations featured in their wildly dramatic first fight. Fury bossed most of the rounds but Wilder knocked the big man down twice and Fury got back up each time.

The final-round knockdown essentially cost Fury victory but its longer-term effects may not have been so damaging.

Down and almost out with Wilder dancing around the ring, Fury’s miraculous resurrection seemed to encapsulate his fall into depression, drink, drugs, extreme weight gain, time out of the ring and his struggle to turn his life around, building up to the moment when he summoned the courage to open his eyes, get back to his feet and fight on.

Most people had Fury down as the winner but it was called a draw, which meant both won massively as the American TV sports networks bought into the compelling narrative and fans clamoured for a rematch.

Deontay Wilder: the greatest knockout artist in heavyweight boxing history

Deontay Wilder is widely recognised as the most destructive puncher in heavyweight boxing history with 41 KOs from 43 fights. He has knocked down or knocked out every opponent he has faced - Bermane Stiverne took him the distance but was crushed within one round of a rematch while Fury, the only opponent to avoid losing to Wilder by KO, needed a modern-day miracle to survive until the final bell.

His technique may not be textbook, but he has an uncanny knack of landing his big right hand and an unwavering belief in his ability to do so.

In recent fights, Wilder has seemed happy to lose the early rounds knowing at some stage his absurd power will turn things around, and that is exactly what has happened.

Last time out he was dominated by Luis Ortiz and was well behind on all three judges' scorecards before finding a huge punch in the seventh to turn off Ortiz’s lights. It was a similar story in the first fight with Fury, and don’t be surprised if they go into the second half of the fight with Fury in control but Wilder looking the more dangerous.

Relying on one big punch is a risky tactic, but it has always worked for Wilder.

Tyson Fury: Kronk mentality suggests scorecards may not be needed

It’s hard to be certain about anything with Tyson Fury, but he appears to be in the best physical condition of his career. The first fight with Wilder in December 2018 came at the end of an astonishing 140lb weight cut and he looks much more of an athlete 14 months and three fight camps down the line.

Just as importantly Fury appears to be in a good place mentally, and he has assembled an impressive team around him. Ben Davison, who coached him since his return from the wilderness, is out, replaced by SugarHill Steward who brings experience of Emanuel Steward’s Detroit Kronk Gym, where Fury trained as a novice.

Alongside him is Fury’s Kronk-schooled cousin Andy Lee, who is a former world middleweight champion. Traditionally, the Kronk way is to go for the knockout, and Fury and his trainers have been eager to predict a KO victory, with Fury stating it will be in round two.

Whether or not this is a bluff only time will tell as punching with a puncher as explosive as Wilder is a risky tactic, but it makes sense that Fury would not want to risk another poor decision in his opponent’s homeland.

What shouldn’t be in doubt is that Fury has the power to stop Wilder. His KO percentage isn’t as spectacular as the American’s, but he is capable of causing him huge problems.

Fury’s last fight against Otto Wallin was meant to be a tune-up but it almost turned into a nightmare as he suffered a terrible cut above the right eye which required 47 stitches.

That was just five months ago. Revered cutman Stitch Duran has been brought in to the corner, and while it looks fully healed it has to be a concern for Fury and anyone betting on him.

Big fight verdict: Fury should win if he can avoid Wilder equaliser

If we assume that Wilder and Fury are both fully fit, as they claim, Fury is a good value bet to win this fight.

As a boxer, he is several levels above Wilder and has many more options as to how he can be victorious.

But Wilder’s big right hand is the ultimate equaliser and it has never let him down. One of his favourite phrases during fight week has been: “Fury has to be perfect for 36 minutes, I need to be perfect for just two seconds”, and that is backed up by his record.

But Fury handled him well for the majority of their first contest despite not being physically at his best and it’s hard to believe that he is not better prepared this time after another year of hard training, discipline and good nutrition.

Wilder’s power is unquestionable and one punch could turn the fight on its head but sooner or later that punch will desert him and Fury is notoriously hard to hit.

Another huge advantage for Fury is his size. Both men are huge - Fury is 6ft 9in, Wilder is 6ft 7in - but Fury is naturally much bigger. Wilder gave up 44lbs in the first fight and and if Fury has turned some of his excess fat into muscle Wilder could have a hard time up close.

Despite the Kronk connections it’s unlikely Fury will look to engage in a firefight, but his team will have been looking at ways to hurt Wilder and break him down. There were plenty of times in the first meeting that a sharper Fury could have exploited Wilder’s vulnerability, and if the American is behind on the scorecards,expect him to get wilder as he searches for that big shot.

Fury doesn’t possess the same one-punch power, but he has a high boxing IQ and if he takes him time and sticks to a game plan, he could cause the kind of cumulative damage that may result in Wilder being unable to continue.

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