LAS VEGAS – Deontay Wilder is heavier than ever. Tyson Fury is about as heavy as he said would be.
The weights are like body language for their rematch Saturday night at the MGM Grand. They can be interpreted in multiple ways, none of which might matter much seconds after the opening bell to the most significant heavyweight fight in years.
Is Wilder searching to augment power that already is called historic? Or will the added pounds take some edge off his speed, a notable advantage?
“At the end of the day, we’re heavyweights, so it really doesn’t matter,” said Wilder (42-0-1, 41 KOs), who is 18½ pounds heavier than the 212½ he was the day before his draw with Fury 15 months ago in Los Angeles. “Throughout my whole career, I’ve been underweight. I probably outweighed my opponent maybe four times in my career.
“So, I really don’t care about weight. This just indicates that I’m in a better state and a better mind than the last time. I’ve come for the pain.”
Wilder, who has never been heavier than 229 pounds before now, has vowed to finish what he started in December 2018. That’s when he knocked down Fury twice, once in the ninth round and again in the 12th. It was also a night when he said he was suffering flu-like symptoms. There were reports that at opening bell he was at about 209 pounds.
Saturday night, Fury will out-weigh Wilder by 42 pounds. He tipped the scale Friday at 273, 16½ more than the 256½ he weighed for the first fight.
“Pure British beef,’’ Fury (29-0-1, 20 KOs) shouted to the delight of a crowd of about 5,000, mostly from the U.K.
Fury had said for a couple of weeks that he expected weigh around 270.
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“I’ve been holding that weight for the last three months in training camp,” said Fury, who traces his lineal claim on the heavyweight title to his 2015 upset of Wladimir Klitschko. “I’ve been sparring every day with it, training every day, so weight is not a problem.
“It’s no secret. I’m looking for a knockout of Deontay Wilder.”
Fury has predicted a stoppage of Wilder within two rounds. It’s hard to know whether the extra pounds will give him the leverage to pull it off. But there’s another question about the scar tissue above his right eye. It’s from the wound he suffered Sept. 14 in a decision over Otto Wallin. He need 47 stitches. Is it vulnerable to rupture over a bout scheduled for 12 rounds? If it is, Fury might need to finish the bout early.
“That’s only going to slow him down,’’ Wilder said of Fury’s extra pounds. “Holding the weight on me? I’m going to rock with it, swing with it, rock with it. I’m not worried about his weight. All I’m telling him is don’t blink. He’s nervous. Nervous energy, as always.’’
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