Deontay Wilder hears the promises. He sees the changes. Tyson Fury is tireless, a whirlwind of talk and taunts, predictions and punch lines.
Fury has a new trainer. He says he has a plan to fight in a way that he never has. He says he will acquire power that he has never displayed. He soaks his hands in fuel. He is unconventional and often unbelievable.
But Wilder says he isn’t fooled.
Wilder sees a nervous man.
Nervous, Wilder says, about a rematch on Feb. 22 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand that will force Fury to again encounter power that dropped him twice 15 months ago.
“Deep down in his heart, I feel he’s nervous,’’ Wilder said Tuesday during a conference call for the Fox/ESPN pay-per-view rematch of their heavyweight draw Dec. 1, 2018 in Los Angeles. “I feel he’s very, very nervous from the first time. You knock a person out and give him a concussion, you never forget that.
“When you walk back into the ring a second time to relive that moment, it has to be stressful. You definitely can’t sleep at night.’’
Fury got up both times. He survived that power, especially in the 12th-round when he woke up and climbed back onto his feet with rare resilience.
“This time, he’s not getting up,’’ Wilder said. “I promise you that.’’
Fury, who believes he was robbed of victory on the scorecards in Los Angeles, goes into the rematch with SugarHill Steward in his corner instead of trainer Ben Davison. The change, one of many for Fury, was made because he says he wants to add punching power, especially to his right hand. Steward learned from his mentor and namesake Emanuel Steward, the late Hall of Famer who preached power was the best way to avoid a controversial decision.
But promised power suggests that Fury will be more aggressive, especially early. In fact, he predicted a second-round knockout of Wilder, whose right hand might be as powerful as any in history.
“I think it’s nervous energy from the first fight,’’ Wilder said. “He says he beat me. But he doesn’t really think that. He honestly doesn’t really believe that. That’s why he wants to change up a lot of things. If he really, really believes he beat me, he wouldn’t change so much. He changes trainers. Now, he’s putting his hands in gasoline to make them harder. He’s brought so many people into his camp. There’s so much going on it’s hard to keep up with all the changes.
“Next thing, he’s going to see a spiritual advisor to ease his mind about what’s going to happen to him and his body come Feb. 22.’’
Punching power doesn’t come from a spiritual advisor. A few weeks in the gym with a new trainer won’t produce it either, says Wilder, who was born with it.
“I’ve said it before, he has ‘pillow-esque’ fists,’’ he said. “That’s how soft they are. Maybe my adrenalin was too high. But I didn’t feel anything. Even after the fight, I didn’t feel anything. I took all his punches, the ones that he landed. Walked through them. I don’t respect none of the power he has. He’s just a tall big man who can move around the ring.
“As far as power, it’s not there.’