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The biggest boxing match of the year will go down tlater tonight (Sat., Feb. 22, 2020) live on ESPN+ PPV from inside MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, as Deontay Wilder (42-0-1, 41 KO) puts his WBC heavyweight title on the line against lineal champion Tyson Fury (29-0-1, 20 KOs) in a massive main event showdown.
What’s Hot:
Considering tonight’s event is a three-fight PPV with little to like outside of the championship headliner, the rematch between Wilder and Fury will have to be attractive enough to spend the $79.99 admission fee. That shouldn’t be too hard, though, as “Bronze Bomber” and “Gypsy King” have already proved their worth inside of the ring after fighting to a split draw just 15 months ago. It was one of the best fights in recent boxing memory and nearly produced a last-minute knockout win for Wilder.
While two fighters with resumes like Wilder and Fury would be good enough to main event the first big boxing PPV of 2020 it’s always extra special when a rematch is in the air. That is what fight fans will get later tonight as the two heavyweight boxers enter the ring for a true grudge match. Both men know a little more about the other this time around and should help make this title fight even more memorable than the first.
What’s Not:
Fight fans are most interested in seeing Wilder and Fury compete inside of the ring this weekend in Las Vegas, but they were ultimately cheated during yesterday’s pre-fight weigh ins ceremony. That’s because Wilder and Fury got into a physical exchange on stage for their pre-fight presser earlier in the week and Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) ruled the two fighters would not be able to come face-to-face again. Most did not agree with this decision as everybody involved with this fight, including Wilder and Fury themselves, wanted one final staredown before Saturday night.
Keys To Victory
Despite what either fighter is saying entering this rematch it’s pretty clear what each has to do in order to walk away with the win this weekend in Sin City.
For Wilder, he will obviously need to find a home for his patented right hand. The 34-year-old champion has successfully defended his WBC title 10-straight times since winning it back in 2015 and isn’t going to change much up entering this fight. Wilder added some weight to his frame for the rematch in hopes of landing the fight-ending punch he couldn’t the first time around, but that still isn’t going to help his movement, head work, and defense on Saturday night. Wilder is still going to have to get past the long reach of Fury and his pestering jabs and body work to be effective in the later frames. Anything less and “Bronze Bomber” could start to fade once his punching power no longer rules the way. That is, of course, if Wilder doesn’t land the decisive blow in the early going.
For Fury, this will be his opportunity to pack on some extra muscle and try to inflict more damage to Wilder than he did in the first fight. Fury stepped on the scales at a massive 273 pounds for yesterday’s weigh ins and will look to implement his elevated size into the fight itself. That may mean taking more risks to score a knockout finish and put an emphatic stamp on his heavyweight legacy, but we are truly unsure how Fury has gameplanned for this fight. Most likely, Fury is going to stick to his guns and try to outsmart Wilder from the opening bell. The towering Englishman would need to mix up his strikes, manipulate his range to stay away from Wilder’s power, and land more volume at every turn to take an early lead on the scorecards and set himself up for some late-fight success.
Injuries:
While there aren’t any defining injuries for Wilder or Fury entering their anticipated rematch it should be noted that “Gypsy King” suffered a brutal cut above his right eye in his last fight with Otto Wallin (see it HERE) that may very well play a role in tonight’s title fight. Fury suffered the cut this past September and may have trouble keeping it clean if Wilder smacks him with a punch early. It’s going to be something fight fans will keep a close eye on from the opening bell, especially considering Wilder believes Fury already opened the cut up in sparring.
Interest Level: 10 of 10
Despite an undercard that many will skip in favor of UFC’s weekend event in Auckland, New Zealand, the “Wilder vs. Fury 2” PPV main card is an absolute must buy. The rematch between Wilder and Fury has been talked about more than most sports stories over the past month and should be a heavyweight title fight that captures the attention of viewers worldwide. After all, Wilder and Fury have never lost inside of the ring, represent the two best heavyweight boxers in the world today, and each have everything to gain in a rematch from their 2018 draw.
It’s going to be quite the spectacle as Wilder tries to drop the hammer on “Gypsy King” and Fury looks to piece “Bronze Bomber” up in the later rounds.