Many pundits and fans questioned if we needed a trilogy fight between Tyson Fury (31-0-1) and Deontay Wilder (42-2-1) after the emphatic beatdown that caused Wilder’s then-trainer to throw in the towel back in February 2020. Despite losing for the second time in three fights, Deontay Wilder showed us that we absolutely did.
Despite the tension throughout the fight, there were only two potential outcomes.
Deontay Wilder’s right hand wins him the fight.
Deontay Wilder loses.
It’s no secret that, as far as championship-caliber fighters go, Wilder lacks boxing skill. He’s routinely been out-boxed for long expanses of a fight before landing a devastating straight right hand. He has perhaps the most one-punch power in heavyweight (and as a result boxing) history. Fury, by contrast, is potentially the most proficient boxer in the division and was always going to win the majority of the rounds. But in the second fight, he also showed that he’d been able to add power and work in a swarming, come-forward style into his repertoire; Wilder was caught off guard and battered. Though Wilder made adjustments this time around they fell just short.
In the first two rounds Wilder showcased some of the improvements that he’d made. He worked behind his jab and spent time on Fury’s body, which is often used to slow down the opposing fighter over the course of the fight and cause them to drop their hands to protect their torso. In turn, this would theoretically allow Wilder to better set up his straight right hand and end the fight.
Fury turned up the heat in the third round with a knockdown that left Wilder visibly shaken for the remainder of the round. He reversed his fortunes in the fourth, downing Fury twice. Had he gotten the second knockdown earlier, Wilder may have been able to end the fight then. Instead Fury was able to recover between rounds and out-box Wilder, who was swinging for the fences to end the fight. After the sixth round Wilder’s output declined noticeably, likely due to a combination of him pushing too hard in the early rounds and having come in heavier than he’d ever come in previously.
He continued for nearly five more rounds, eating hellacious shots from Fury (and was downed again in the tenth) but there was always suspense and anticipation that he’d be able to land his equalizer. That suspense died in the eleventh round, when Fury caught Wilder with an uppercut that had him on unsteady footing, then unleashed a combination that culminated in a right hook that dropped him for the final time. Even as disoriented as he was, Wilder tried to stand up as the ref waived off the fight. He got what he’d asked for after the second fight: the chance to “go out on his shield.” That phrase is derived from the Spartans of ancient Greece who, when going off to battle, would be told to come home “with their shield or on it.” Fury, who had ironically walked out wearing Spartan armor, gave him that wish.
The fight itself was incredible, and I think it’s important we all appreciate what happened this weekend. Though Wilder wasn’t able to best Fury in any of their three contests, he nearly got the knockout in both the first and third fight. That’s worth noting, because the history books may reduce this trilogy into “two wins and a draw for Tyson Fury” without paying attention to the nuance of this modern classic. Tyson Fury is now unequivocally the king of this era, and he went unbeaten against potentially the most devastating puncher in the sport’s history. Wilder, for his part, used his grit and his natural gift to ascend to a place in boxing that his skills should have never allowed him to reach. These two men may or may not harbor real animosity toward one another, but they have been the perfect dance partners for one another. Each of the three fights was thrilling. In the first Fury was unconscious and still managed to beat the count. In the second, Fury was able to unleash a new set of skills; though his win wasn’t a shock, the method of doing so certainly was. Then we finally had the trilogy that was an absolute war. Three fights, nine knockdowns, and unmatched anticipation. This has truly been a phenomenal finish to a historic rivalry.
So what’s next?
For Tyson Fury, fighting for undisputed status has to be on the horizon. He was close to making the undisputed fight with Anthony Joshua (24-2) before the courts ruled he owed Wilder the trilogy, but with Joshua’s loss to Alexander Usyk (19-0) Fury will have to wait for their rematch to make his case for the undisputed throne. In the meantime he can either stay on the sidelines or take another fight. Though he’s had issues with substance abuse and mental health during long layoffs before, he was able to stay focused, mentally well, and sober in the twenty months between fights with Wilder. If he thinks he needs to stay in the gym, Dillian Whyte (28-2) has been angling for a shot at the WBC title for years, this could finally be his opportunity if he’s able to defeat Otto Wallin (22-1) on October 30. If Fury thinks he can take time off without it taking a toll on him mentally, a break after such a war is completely warranted and potentially needed.
Wilder will likely need more time and the right fight (assuming he wants to fight again.) He reportedly broke his hand during the fight, likely when he and Fury threw simultaneous rights that collided mid-air. Once that heals, he’ll need to find a softer touch to regain the confidence he likely lost in back-to-back stoppage losses. There’s been some buzz about a potential matchup with Andy Ruiz (34-2), but it has seemed to be more fan speculation than genuine insider information. I’d love to see him in the ring with Robert Helenius (31-3) next. Helenius was on his way to a knockout win on the undercard before his opponent was disqualified; it’d be an action-packed fight that Wilder should win and a payday I’d like to see Helenius receive. Helenius was one of Wilder’s sparring partners and was in camp with him in Alabama, however, so that seems unlikely. Though it’s lost some of its shine with them having two losses apiece, the most exciting fight at heavyweight might still be Wilder vs. Joshua, but with Joshua tied up in the Usyk rematch and both likely needing at least one tune up fight before stepping to one another, that seems unlikely in the near future. Though trainer Malik Scott has indicated it won’t occur, Wilder could also retire, as he’s secured generational wealth and short of a fourth fight with Fury doesn’t have much left to prove. He was a good champion with historic power, and he should be commended for his career. Even though he fought a lot of journeymen on the way up, he proved himself over world-class competition in defense of his title and came seconds away from greatness twice against Tyson Fury.
If you take nothing else away from this, appreciate boxing history as it happens.
Other Notable Results
Robert Helenius defeats Adam Kownacki (DQ 6)
Frank Sanchez defeats Efe Ajagba (UD)
Jared Anderson defeats Vladimir Tereshkin (TKO 2)
Edgar Berlanga defeats Marcelo Esteban Coceres (UD)
Julian Williams upset by Vladimir Hernandez (SD)
Liam Smith defeats Anthony Fowler (TKO 8)
Marina Rodriguez defeats Mackenzie Dern (UD)
Former UFC star Chuck Liddell was arrested on domestic battery charges after police arrived at his Los Angeles home. Liddell’s wife did not need medical attention and Liddell was released on bail.
UFC lightweight contender Luis Peña was arrested for the second time this year. He has been accused of domestic violence and battery involving his girlfriend and another woman. His previous arrest was in June for robbery, battery, and criminal mischief.
Manny Pacquiao retired from boxing on Tuesday, September 28 in a Facebook post. The eight-division champion will turn his attention toward his bid for election as president of the Philippines.
MMA
UFC Fight Night: Ladd vs Dumont Viana, Saturday 10/16, 7:00PM (EST)
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Boxing
Emanuel Navarrete vs. Joet Gonzalez, Friday 10/15, 10:00PM (EST)
View full cardMairis Briedis vs. Artur Mann, Saturday 10/16, 2:00PM (EST)
View full cardHughie Fury vs. Christian Hammer, Saturday 10/16, 2:00PM (EST)
View full cardMikey Garcia vs. Sandor Martin, Saturday 10/16, 6:30PM (EST)
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