THE whole world will be tuning in as Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder go head to head for a THIRD time this weekend in Las Vegas.
Both heavyweights will be gloving up for the most anticipated trilogy fight since the Thrilla in Manila when Muhammad Ali knocked out Joe Frazier in 1975.
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Fury, 31, completed a remarkable return to the top of boxing after battling with alcoholism, drug addiction and depression during the pair’s first bout in 2018.
The Gypsy King was knocked down in the ninth round before somehow peeling himself off the canvas after a KO blow by Wilder in the final round.
After dominating the middle rounds, judges scored the clash as a draw leaving both fighters wanting a rematch.
And with more months of training under his belt Fury produced the most explosive performance of his career to snatch the WBC belt from Wilder’s grasp in February 2020.
The Brit replaced his usual slick boxing style for a more powerful approach and managed to drop Wilder in the third and fifth rounds.
And after continuing to dominate the Bronze Bomber’s team had seen enough and decided to throw in the towel in the seventh round.
Wilder has since sacked assistant trainer Mark Breland for quitting against his will and has been spouting excuses for the past year.
The 35-year-old has claimed he was tired due to his heavy ring-walk costume, his coach Mark Breland spiked his water and has even accused Fury of glove tampering.
For as much as it was a devastating defeat for Wilder it was a statement by Fury which had the whole world talking up a potential heavyweight unification bout with Anthony Joshua.
But with the coronavirus pandemic putting boxing and the rest of the world on hold negotiations came to halt.
And when talks started on a £200m mega-fight in Saudi Arabia this summer, Wilder had his rematch clause for a third fight reinstated after it expired during Covid.
Arbitrator Daniel Weinstein ordered Fury to fight the Alabama Slammer for a third fight or face paying up $80m.
And Wilder says he is confident of reclaiming his belt and knocking out Fury after having 18 months to train for the clash.
He said: “I see me beating him up and then knocking him out.
“As many things that I visualize in the first fight along with the second.
“I didn’t execute the game plan but this time around It’s just a different feeling, you know, all the way around. Just all the surroundings around me.
“The atmosphere. You know what I’m saying just the energy as a whole. I’m looking forward to putting on a great performance come October the 9th.
“Those that are in the area are going to feel the electricity that’s in there.”
While Fury has admitted he has been under a sex ban during his fight camp and says he is going to knock Wilder ‘the f*** out’.”
It might not have been the fight most British fans wanted but with so much on the line this fight will be one for the ages no matter the outcome.
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BETTING SPECIAL: GET 30/1 ON FURY OR 50/1 ON WILDER FOR HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING CLASH
When is Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder 3?
- Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder 3 was originally slated to take place on July 24, but will now take place on Saturday, October 9.
- Expect the main event of Fury vs Wilder 3 at around 4am BST.
- The T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas plays host and Nevada is eight hours behind the UK, so the fight will begin about 8pm local time.
What TV channel and live stream is Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder 3 on?
- Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder 3 is being broadcast live on BT Sport Box Office in the UK.
- The fight will cost £24.95 on BT.
- In the US the event will be live on ESPN+ and Fox PPV.
- talkSPORT will bring you live and exclusive radio commentary of Tyson Fury’s heavyweight trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder this Saturday night. Download the talkSPORT app to listen.
What are the odds?
Unbeaten Fury goes into the fight as the favourite with odds of 2/7.
You can get 5/2 on dangerous Wilder to avenge his only loss.
And a draw – which was the result of their first fight remember – is currently set at 25/1.
(Odds via Betfair at the time of publication)
How the fighters compare
It’s pretty fair to say that Fury and Wilder are two completely different fighters.
In years gone by, Wilder has been known for his one-punch knockout power, his ferocious finishes and the mighty torque he gets into his right hands.
He’s often been criticised for his lack of traditional boxing technique, having picked up the sport late in his life, before managing to secure himself an Olympic bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
But Wilder has rarely ever needed boxing technique to get through his fights, boasting an incredible 41 knockouts from his 44 fights.
Fury, on the other hand, has been boxing since he was a child, and is known for his excellent footwork, feinting, double-jabbing and ring IQ.
He outwitted the great Wladimir Klitschko in their world title clash back in 2015 and outboxed Wilder for long periods of their first fight in 2018, though it ended in a draw.
Fury does pack a heavy punch, however, as he showed in his rematch with Wilder, but it’s his boxing which allows him to set up the offensive side of his game.
What have they said?
Fury has joked that he will use ‘Peaky Blinders’ style tactics and load his gloves with ‘horseshoes and dynamite’.
Speaking to MMA Hour after Wilder’s latest accusations, the 33-year-old said: “Do you know what, I’m gonna cheat again because I’m gonna smash his face in.
“So, according to him that’s cheating because he’s not supposed to lose. But unfortunately I’m going to cheat again.
“You ever watched Peaky Blinders? I loaded the gloves with horseshoes and dynamite.
“This time I’m going to do exactly the same but I’m going to put a bit more metal in there.
“With Wilder, in my opinion, he’s come out with all this stuff, I’ve cheated, I’ve done this, I’m a natural born cheater, his coach – I must have some power mustn’t I because I’ve even got his coach on my side!
“And not to mention [trainer] Jay Deas, he’s on my payroll too.
“I’m like Tommy Shelby here, I’ve got them all on the payroll. He’s on the payroll too, Jay Deas, because he was in the changing room while I was getting my gloves on the whole time.
“So he must have helped me and Wilder’s in denial about that. But let me just put that out there as well.”
Where is Fury vs Wilder 3 taking place?
Fury vs Wilder 3 will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, making it the third different venue in pair’s three fights.
Fury vs Wilder 1 took place at Staples Center in Los Angeles back in December 2018.
And while their second happened in Las Vegas, the MGM Grand Garden Arena was the venue.
But now the T-Mobile Arena, which has hosted huge fights such as Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor, Canelo Alvarez vs Gennady Golovkin and numerous big UFC events, will play host for their third clash.
Who is training Tyson Fury?
Tyson Fury will be trained, once again, by SugarHill Steward, who took his corner for the second Wilder fight.
Fury used to be trained by Ben Davison, who was in charge for the very first Wilder bout, but was replaced by Steward a year later.
Steward instantly implemented his ‘Kronk style’ of training, one in which where boxers who fight out of the Kronk Gym in Detroit, Michigan, seek to put pressure on their opponents to force a knockout.
The style of fighting was first introduced by legendary trainer Emanuel Steward, SugarHill’s late uncle.
Fury predicted that with SugarHill in his corner, he would bring the fight to Wilder and take him out during their second fight, a prediction not many believed in.
But the Gypsy King did just that, stopping Wilder in seven rounds. And now, with 18 months more Kronk training under his belt, Fury will be looking for the same result on October 9.
Who is training Deontay Wilder?
Wilder has brought in a new head trainer in Malik Scott, who the Bronze Bomber fought and knocked out back in 2014.
Scott and Wilder have worked all summer in attempt to sharpen the latter’s boxing skills, quickening both his feet and hands in preparation for Fury.
Wilder will still have ex-head trainer Jay Deas in his corner, but Scott will take charge on fight night.
The Alabama native used to have former world champion Mark Breland in his corner, but he was sacked after Wilder accused him of spiking his water before the second Fury fight.
It was also Breland who threw the towel in, forcing the referee to stop the fight midway through the seventh round.
What happened during Fury vs Wilder 1?
Fury’s first fight with Wilder took place in Los Angeles, California on December 1, 2018, several months after the Gypsy King’s two comeback bouts with Sefer Seferi and Francesco Pianeta.
Wilder was the favourite heading into the fight, having knocked out every opponent he’d ever faced before Fury, who had spent two years out of the ring with drug addiction and mental health problems.
But the fight ended in a controversial split decision draw with both fighters having success throughout the contest.
Fury managed to outbox Wilder for most of the fight but was knocked down in the ninth and 12th rounds.
The Brit miraculously got up off the canvas in the final round, getting to his feet on the count of nine, before boxing well for the rest of the fight.
The fight was scored 115-111 for Wilder, 114-112 for Fury and 113-113.
What happened during Fury vs Wilder 2?
Fury vs Wilder 2 took place in Las Vegas on February 20, 2020 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
The second fight turned out to be a more one-sided affair, with Fury shocking the boxing world to stop Wilder in the seventh round of their Las Vegas clash.
Fury came into the fight with a new trainer in SugarHill Steward, after utilising Ben Davison in his corner for the first bout.
Steward and Fury adopted an offensive game plan and came forward at Wilder throughout the fight, knocking him down in rounds three and five.
Wilder’s assistant trainer Mark Breland eventually threw in the towel at the midway point of the seventh round, making Fury the WBC and Ring Magazine heavyweight champion.
The Bronze Bomber would go on to make a slew of excuses for the loss, but one of them he later denied was that he suffered a burst eardrum.
The Covid-19 pandemic delayed several attempts to get a trilogy rematch finalised.
But this weekend, Wilder will finally get his chance at vengeance.