GOOD
It all made perfect sense a few rounds into the fight.
The new, offensive-minded trainer. The aggressive game plan. The added heft. Brilliant. The now-former champion Deontay Wilder never really had much of a chance on Saturday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
We knew Tyson Fury was a better boxer than Wilder. We just didn’t focus enough on his size advantage – 273 pounds, to 231 – and willingness to use it.
The “Gypsy King,” attacking from the opening bell, delivered head-snapping jabs. He landed concussion power shots, including one that put his rival down in the third round and damaged him. And, when they got close, he simply held and leaned on the smaller man.
Wilder had no clue how to cope with this version of Fury, except to fire his vaunted right hand occasionally. And after he lost his legs, he couldn’t even that option didn’t seem viable.
The unbeaten knockout artist, who drew with a defense-minded Fury in 2018, was reduced to a punching bag in the rematch. He lasted only until 1:39 of Round 7, when Mark Breland, Wilder’s co-trainer, threw in the towel.
Fury proved beyond doubt that he, not Wilder, is the best heavyweight in the world. Anthony Joshua? After what we saw in Joshua’s first fight with Andy Ruiz Jr., it difficult to imagine him beating this version of Fury.
It’s also difficult to imagine Fury going back to his hit-and-not-be-hit style of the past after what we saw Saturday.
“Twenty-one knockouts in 30 fights ain’t so bad considering I’ve never really looked for knockouts in my career,” he said. “I’ve always looked to use my boxing skill. But with this weight alone, technique, right Sugar? We can knock out anybody, can’t we?”
Yes, you can.
BAD
Wilder said in the ring after the fight that “things like this happen.”
Indeed, things like this – bad things – happen in boxing. This was really bad, though. This wasn’t a one-punch knockout, after which one could say, “Hey, I got caught.” This was a back-alley beat down.
Those type of setbacks are more difficult to put behind you than a less-damaging loss. Wilder likely will never regain the status he enjoyed when he got up Saturday morning.
After the fight, he used the term “no excuses” yet he served one up. He said he had some sort of leg injury, although he didn’t elaborate. If that’s true, maybe a healthier Wilder would perform better. And maybe the damage to his ear did affect his equilibrium. If that was the case, he couldn’t have been expected to compete with a fighter as good and big as Fury.
I’m reaching here, though. The reality is that Fury is a better fighter than Wilder. A rematch is likely to produce a similar result.
Yes, Anthony Joshua suffered a brutal knockout loss against Andy Ruiz Jr. and then bounced back to outpoint him. The problem for Wilder is Ruiz is no Fury and he simply doesn’t have the skill set to turn the tables. He’d have to land one of his big rights, which is possible but harder to imagine now.
We all knew that Wilder’s limited boxing ability would probably catch up to him one day. That’s what happened on Saturday.
WORSE
“Going out on one’s shield.” That might be the most dangerous term in boxing.
I get it. These are warriors. And true warriors don’t give up. They continue to fight as long as they can raise their fights, the consequences be damned. That type of fighter has always existed in the sport. Wilder evidently is one of them.
The problem is that such a philosophy can lead to tragedy. And it’s the job of those around a warrior – his trainer, the referee, the ring doctor – to save him from his own instincts sometimes.
Wilder was angry at co-trainer Mark Breland for throwing in the towel as his fighter was taking a beating against the ropes. “Why did you do that?” he asked his cornerman. Jay Deas, Wilder’s other trainer and longtime advisor, tried to discourage Breland from doing what he did.
The fact is Breland did exactly the right thing.
Wilder had taken a terrible beating. Blood was dripping from his ear and from his mouth. And nothing happening in the ring suggested Wilder would be able to turn things around with one of his fearsome right hands.
Of course, anything was possible. At the same time, a hail Mary punch was highly unlikely. Fury, completely in charge, just wouldn’t allow it.
Had Wilder been allowed to continue, the only result would’ve been more physical – and possibly psychological – damage. What would’ve been the point? So he could say he went out on his shield?
That’s not a good enough reason.