Former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury will have a new team in his corner for Saturday’s PPV rematch with WBC heavyweight world champion Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas. Both Fury and Wilder weigh in on the ramifications.
[Tyson Fury on his new trainer SugarHill Steward] “I had a good defensive coach, Ben Davison. We worked a lot on defense every single day for two years. It was defense, defense, defense. So I needed an aggressive trainer. I worked with SugarHill in the past. I knew he was a good guy. I knew we got along well, which is very important. Communication is key to any good relationship, and that’s what I brought him in, and it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, ever.”
[Tyson Fury on his new cutman Stitch Duran] “The decision was I got a big cut in the last fight, 47 stitches across the top of the eye inside and out, and I’m going to need someone who’s the best at what they do. And Stitch is the best at what he does. So yeah, we’re not cutting any corners.”
[Deontay Wilder on Fury’s new team] “I really think it’s nervous energy from the first fight. He can go on and say that he beat me in a wide margin, but he doesn’t believe that. He honestly really doesn’t believe that. That’s why he wants to change up a lot of things because if he did really, really believe that you wouldn’t change up so much. He has changed up from where he trains at, to trainers to now he putting his hand in gasoline to try to make him harder. He brought so many people in his camp. Like there’s just so much going on, there’s too much to keep up with all the changes.
Here is my 2 cents. Fury is a seasoned fighter with many fighting habits already ingrained in his style. Habits are hard to break when one has been doing them for years. If Steward can add a few more skills onto Fury’s arsenal, this will be a good thing. For example, maybe adding more power and aggressiveness would be a few great attributes. However, Fury has already claimed if my style has gotten me this far, why change it? Fury is not a KO artist like Wilder. Nothing new there. Fury is on the right track if he hired Steward to simply get the “mean pit bull” out of him for this fight. In other words, getting in tip top shape, building more strength, and having some snap on the end of that punch. Wilder is the one everyone is tuning in to see. You know, we want to see if he land that one big punch and change it up. Have a wonderful day!
I am convinced Fury didn’t want this rematch, not because he is truly afraid of Wilder, but rather, from the standpoint of his boxing career, a fight against Joshua is more profitable and perhaps less risky.
I have no objections about the cut man, fine, but defense is what saved him against Wilder and Klitschko. By being aggressive a fighter has to give some in return and against Wilder what is coming in return is not a firecracker, I guess is a bomb.
By saying he is going to be heavier in this fight and the need of an agressive trainer, he is making public his fight plan and in my opinion, it could be a short night for either guy, but the percentage will be higher on him.
Yep, the last thing Fury needs to do is be more aggressive. He will connect more on Wilder by doing this, but so will he get caught more and that will be goodnight Irene.
I am not sure about that though how often have you seen Wilder forced to fight off the back foot? if Fury is able to control the center of the Ring and make wilder fight off the back foot here and there does Wilder have the tools to win fighting that way
true. In a big way it is Fury’s fight to win or lose.
Fury needs to run and box like AJ did in Ruiz II.
Maybe not running, but doing better of what he did the first time. Seems he believes that is not possible, maybe he doesn’t want to arrive to the late rounds.
of course any fighter is going to be nervous going into a fight especially a fight with Wilder. I have no idea where wilder is going with this theory because Fury has the upside to look at here
Yes he was dropped twice but he got up both times and not only did he get up both times he fought back and did well he didnt just get up and survive
Fury made a good enough account of his performance in which most believe he won that fight.
So if Wilder expect Fury to be in fear of him that will only serve Fury because Fury has the confidence going in knowing that he is able to hold his own.
What is the guarantee that Fury will get up again like he did twice in the last fight. He needs to have a better ring generalship, avoid Wilder’s power, never get comfortable like Wilder’s last opponent. Wilder’s chin is not tested till yet. Fury may decide to test it but he should do it without exposing himseld to Wilder’s power!
Shelly, a fighter’s chin is tested when a solid punch lands where he can get hurt (staggered) or knocked down. The way he respond to this is what serves to evaluate him. Wilder has been staggered several times, being the worse against Ortiz (first fight). Obviously his chin is not that reliable, is not as bad as Amir Khan, but is not solid at all.
“most believe he won that fight” smh – make your own surmises instead of repeating the same line over that everyone else does.
Fury always says a lot before a fight. He always says he will KO his opponent and never does. He says he will stand toe to toe with Wilder for this fight. Who believes that? I think he will play it safe and stay his distance and make it a very, very, boring fight and try to win by a UD.
With the extra weight it might be tough to do that-seems more likely that Wilder will catch him and get him out of there.
Fury is a light puncher? I’ve always said if learned to set down on his punches he would be the most dangerous HW out there…Look at his KO record anyway.
In All fairness, Wilder probably only weighed 205lbs by the time he knocked down Fury, stupid on his part; this time he will be weighing low 220’s
The bottom line is if he lands GN
If not, easy win for Fury
Its hard to imagine that Fury can avoid some heavy punches over 12 rounds against Wilder and Fury certainly cant go toe to toe with him. Fury chin is suspect and has been down against a light heavy like Steve Cunningham. His defense is superb and he did well in the first fight with movement why change? It hard to imagine he can gain punching power at this stage of his career and to sit down on his punches would invite counter punches he doesn’t want to get hit with. I wouldn’t be surprised if the “cut” becomes a factor possibly a stoppage. Fury should stay with his movement score points and use his defensive skills and no clowning.
Richard, excellent assessment and well said! Great analysis on Fury’s general fight plan and background.
Interesting that Javan Sugar Hill, Emanuel Steward’s nephew I believe, changed his name to Javan SugarHill Steward. I wonder how much of Emanuel’s success at heavyweight/with taller fighters can be transmitted to Fury. If there were a trainer I had to choose as a tall heavyweight, it would undoubtedly be Emanuel Steward. His teaching and style are ideal for that size.
Fury came into the last fight after not fighting for years, getting fat and binging on cocaine. He got his shit together, got into reasonable shape and boxed pretty well. This time, he will be fully fit physically and mentally, will have fights under his belt and is going to make Deontay look average just like he did against Wlad. Fury is a smart guy, he knows he has Wilders number or he wouldn’t have fought him the first time.
Agreed!!
He simply needs a medic to help him off the canvas.
LAO!! ……..with some smelling salts NJ
The whole world saw that Fury won the first fight except for Wilders fans of course.
Fury outboxed Wilder for almost 10 rounds and then took Wilders best shots and got up from them, this is kind of heart and determination he has. Fury has learned alot from the 1st fight by adding a new trainer which will work more in his favour to be abit more aggressive and defensive, but not working on the back foot.
This will be a cracking fight with Fury winning by TKO.
Fury is more skilled then wilder and had much better TIMING. He can afford to put some more pop on his punches (jab). He was out of shape their last fight and still unofficially won. Hes going to do the same thing as before but be sharper and put more authority behind his jab. Simple little changes which will have a big impact against wilder.