In what was expected to be a highly anticipated and well-watched fight, heavyweights Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder squared up for the rematch on Saturday night. The last fight between these two ended in a controversial split decision draw back in December 2018. Most people thought Fury was the clear winner, while others strongly argued that Wilder should have taken the prize.
The rematch produced a clear-cut winner this time in Fury, who finally forced Wilder to defeat in the seventh round.
With the past in the past, these two aimed for an epic clash. Britain’s own Fury entered at 29-0-1 with 20 KOs as he looked to take the WBC heavyweight belt from the American Wilder, who came in at 42-0-1 with 41 KOs.
Days leading up to the fight, it was evident by the antics at the news conference that these two had not let what happened in 2018 go. The two began to shove each other on the stage after the news conference prompting the Nevada State Athletic Commission to not allow the fighters to partake in the customary weigh-in procedures.
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“The Commission wants to ensure the fight goes off without a hitch,” said Top Rank media relations director Evan Korn.
With this rematch, a new buzz around heavyweight boxing has begun.
“We talk about the golden age of the heavyweight division,” said Lance Pugmire of The Athletic. “Well, this is a golden opportunity to get back there, or close to it. The division felt like it fell asleep for a long time. Now, you have this perfect mix: two larger-than-life figures, great fighters, who matchup in a way that guarantees a great battle.”
And a great battle it was. Fury gave Wilder a shocking beatdown sending the American to the floor in the third and fifth rounds, before ultimately ending it in the seventh.
As part of the contract, each fighter gets half of the purse and a cut of the pay-per-view receipts. It also included a rematch clause which now gives Wilder’s team 30 days to decide on a potential third fight.
If that happens, the purse would be divided 60-40 in Fury’s favor. And Fury was fairly confident a third fight would come.
“The spoils of war have just happened,” Fury said. “I need to enjoy this victory and Deontay will need time to recover from the fight, but I’m almost sure that he will take a rematch because he’s a dynamite puncher. At any time he can take somebody out. With that danger, then you’re always in a fight. I’m pretty sure we’ll run it back again if he wants to…”
If Wilder declines, the alternative is Anthony Joshua, who holds three major title belts in the heavyweight division. That British battle would be a monumental meeting where the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 2000 would be crowned.
For now, Fury will celebrate and Wilder will recover as the world waits to see if Fury-Wilder III will come to fruition.
