Fury Says Wilder Was His Toughest Fight

Tyson Fury says that Deontay Wilder was the toughest fight of his career. 

The Gypsy King faced Wilder a total of three times, winning the trilogy with two wins and a draw. The first fight ended in a draw as Fury made his comeback to the sport after struggling with mental health. Fury managed to go the full 12 rounds, outboxing Wilder before the American dropped him in the final round. Just when it appeared that Fury had been knocked out, he managed to beat the count and make it to the final bell. 

Many felt he had still done enough to win. But the knockdown had secured a draw for Wilder, who retained his WBC Heavyweight Title. The rematch then took place as Fury stopped Wilder in the seventh round with a dominant performance. They would run things back once again in the third fight. While Fury did get the stoppage in the 11th round, he was dropped on two occasions in one of the most thrilling trilogies of all time. The fight took a lot out of both men, as there was a perception that they were no longer the same fighters.

Fury On Wilder

Fury would later labor towards a victory against Francis Ngannou, who was making his boxing debut. That was followed up by the first career loss against Oleksandr Usyk. Meanwhile, Wilder has only won one fight of his last four since the third Fury fight. He lost a one-sided unanimous decision against Joseph Parker. That was followed by a knockout loss against Zhilei Zhang. Fury has admitted that Wilder is the hardest puncher he has ever faced. He followed that up by stating that he felt he may have suffered from brain damage. And looking back, Wilder was the toughest. 

“I’m gonna have to say Wilder. When I fought Wilder he was in his prime, he was the man to beat and he was a dynamite puncher. One mistake, and it’s over in any round, round one, or round 12. He was always my target, but I used to look at him and think, ‘Wow.’ I’d see him hit people, and their legs would be shaking, out cold on the floor. They’re terrifying knockouts. The highlight reel knockouts that he has are up there with anybody’s, if not the best,” Fury said 

Fury On Usyk

Nevertheless, it is important to bear in mind the following. Usyk beat Fury in his biggest fight for the Undisputed Heavyweight Title. Usyk dominated the earlier rounds, while Fury made his comeback in the middle rounds. However, it was the Ukrainian who finished the fight stronger. He almost knocked Fury out in the ninth round as Fury was bouncing off the ropes.

There is an argument that the fight should have been stopped. Fury can set things right when he rematches Usyk on December 21. A victory sets up an undisputed heavyweight fight against Daniel Dubois. Dubois is the IBF Heavyweight Champion who knocked out Anthony Joshua in his last fight. There is plenty on the line, as another defeat for Fury will raise question marks over whether he should retire.

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