Tyson Fury vs. Deontay Wilder: World War III

History, redemption, ego, and the drive for competitive glory meet in a head-on collision this Saturday, Oct. 9 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas when WBC heavyweight champ Tyson Fury (30-0-1, 21 KOs) battles former WBC champ Deontay Wilder (42-1-1, 41 KOs) in a “must see” part three of their epic rivalry.

The ESPN and FOX Sports joint pay-per-view (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) will cap off an entire day of boxing action. Undercard coverage starts at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on FS1, FOX Deportes, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN. Preliminary bouts will air at 4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. PT on the FOX Sports app and the ESPN app.

On the all-heavyweight pay-per-view undercard, Efe “The One and Only” Ajagba battles Frank “The Cuban Flash” Sanchez in a clash of undefeated big men and Robert “The Nordic Nightmare” Helenius meets Adam “Babyface” Kownacki in a much-anticipated rematch of their March 2020 war. Opening up the pay-per-view card, rising American prospect Jared “The Real Big Baby” Anderson takes a big step up in class against fellow unbeaten Vladimir Tereshkin.  

The Story

In their first bout, back in December 2018, Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury put on a tactical display that eventually broke out into a guts and glory battle as Fury rose from two hellacious knockdowns in the later rounds to make it to the final bell. The disputed split decision draw would then lead to a very decisive seventh-round TKO victory for Fury in the rematch fifteen months later. 

As things would turn out, Fury-Wilder 2 would be the last major boxing event for a while as the COVID-19 pandemic forced the sport into a shutdown. 

Efforts to put together the contractually mandated rematch of the rematch lagged, stalled, and flat-out fell apart for a number of reasons. Part three of the trilogy would only become a reality after an arbitration ruling forced it back into existence, snatching Fury from talks to face fellow heavyweight titlist Anthony Joshua.

Wilder, following his ugly loss to Fury in February 2020 and while pursuing an opportunity for redemption, shook things up in his corner and in his life. Chief among these changes was the addition of new trainer and former opponent Malik Scott.

Even with Fury-Wilder 3 on the schedule and both fighters working their way to preparedness, it wasn’t exactly smooth sailing for this heavyweight title bout. Fury would contract COVID-19 two weeks before the initial July 24 fight date and force the postponement to October 9.

Now, however, the stage is set for this crucial heavyweight contest and both fighters are eager to settle their grudges once and for all. 

The Stakes

At stake is the WBC heavyweight title, a claim to the lineal heavyweight title, and status as the indisputable number one big man in the sport. 

The Matchup 

The scouting report hasn’t changed when it comes to both fighters, even though their circumstances and main stage status have definitely switched up since the last time they fought.

Fury, the 6-foot-9 “Gypsy King,” still fancies himself a boxer at heart, but his dominant stoppage victory over Wilder in part two of the rivalry shows that he can be a tremendous offensive fighter as well.

“ I’m a dangerous man at this point in time. ” Former WBC World Heavyweight Champion - Deontay Wilder

With an 85-inch reach and a high ring IQ, the big Irishman has great versatility and can employ various tactics and strategies. Surviving two knockdowns in his first bout with Wilder—especially a brutal right-left combination in the twelfth round that looked like a definite fight-ender—also proved him to be a very tough, tenacious character.

“The Bronze Bomber” Deontay Wilder is explosive, unorthodox, supremely self-confident, and all about landing a big, fight-ending kill shot. The 2008 Olympic bronze medalist has an unflappable belief in his own power and in his ability to hurt anyone he touches.

In his last bout with Fury, the Tuscaloosa, Alabama native just never seemed to get his legs back underneath him after getting hit with a big shot around the left ear in the third round. He would eventually get walked down and stopped in the seventh when then co-trainer Mark Breland threw in the towel. 

The task for new trainer Malik Scott will revolve around getting off first and adding some defensive nuance to Wilder’s game.

The Words

Tyson Fury

“I’m going to go all guns blazing, full out attack, all in victory, straight out of the door from round one until it finishes. It’s either going to be me or Wilder. It’s nearly that time of the year again where I take over Las Vegas, and it becomes the home of ‘The Gypsy King.’ I plan to smash Deontay Wilder to bits...and I will.”

Deontay Wilder

“I’m a dangerous man at this point in time. Malik [Scott] and my team have brought the best out of me and I’m just ready. But it don’t mean nothing if you can’t show it to the rest of the world and I know that. I’m ready to do so. Don’t blink, baby. Don’t blink.”

The Breakdown

In their last meeting, Fury had success pushing Wilder backwards and Wilder, like many offense-minded fighters, had great difficulty fighting in reverse. Look for the defending WBC champ to employ that strategy again, using a stiff jab, smart timing, and a raw size advantage that amounted to a 42-pound edge the last time. 

Wilder, meanwhile, will have to stop Fury’s push forward. He can do that with an increased dedication to the jab, a greater effort to get his shots off first, and/or some use of subtle angles to offset Fury’s offense. New trainer Malik Scott’s guidance will meet head-to-head with Wilder’s willingness to change his game in this upcoming challenge. Without some fundamental changes to his approach, Wilder will be depending almost entirely on his one-punch power to reclaim his title and avenge his lone professional defeat.

Fury has to be considered the favorite coming into his third encounter with Wilder, but there are multiple paths to victory for the former champ. And if added guile and nuance don’t factor into Wilder’s approach to part three of his rivalry with Fury, he’ll still have that script-flipping, game-altering one-punch power in his arsenal that could change everything in a heartbeat. 

All in all, expect fireworks this coming Saturday, powered by pride and legitimate ill will. With so much on the line and bad blood flowing everywhere, Fury-Wilder 3 is a definite “must see.”

For a closer look at Fury vs Wilder 3, check out our fight night page.