Tag: rematch

Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury begin promotion for Feb. 22 rematch

The promotion for Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury II has begun, after both fighters took to their social media to announce ticket information.

The official promotional campaign for Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury II has begun.

After weeks of radio silence, both fighters simultaneously took to social media to announce their highly anticipated heavyweight title rematch on Feb. 22 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, including ticket information.

“After February 22nd there will be no more unanswered questions,” Wilder wrote. “I will finish what I started, and this time @Tyson_Fury will not be getting up off that canvas so quickly. I’ve proven myself time and time again and I will do it again in February.”

The first fight, which took place at Staples Center on Dec. 1, 2018, ended in a controversial draw that saw the hard-hitting Wilder score two knockdowns but get largely outboxed by the dexterous Fury. The fight is famous for Fury’s ability to get off the canvas from what appeared to be a fight-ending punch in the 12th and final round.

“I’m happy and I’m excited that the rematch is finally happening,” Wilder said in a release. “I want to give the fans what they want to see. I’ve been doing it with my last three outings – Fury, Breazeale and Ortiz. They’ve been spectacular events – from my ring walks where I gather all the energy of the people, to my uniforms that I wear to help spread that energy.

“Then I give them what they all come for – the knockouts, and my knockouts have been amazing. I proved myself the first time and I’m ready to do it again. It was a very controversial fight. I promise my fans that there won’t be any controversy with this one. I’m going to finish it.”

“There’s no more ducking and diving,” Fury said in a release. “The date has been set, and the ‘Bomb Squad’ is about to be securely detonated and the real champion crowned as the world watches on for the most anticipated fight in years. This is unfinished business for me, but come February 22, this dosser will finally get what’s coming to him, and I can’t wait!”

The rematch will be a pay-per-view collaboration between rivals Top Rank/ESPN and PBC/Fox. The fight is expected to be heavily promoted on the networks during their respective NFL super bowl coverage. Top Rank boss Bob Arum has gone so far as to say that he expects 2 million buys. However the rematch plays out, various outlets have reported that a third fight is already in the works for the summer.

 

Jeff Horn exacts revenge on Michael Zerafa with majority decision

Jeff Horn outslugged Michael Zerafa to win by a majority points decision in a 12-round middleweight bout Wednesday night in Brisbane.

A late – and bloody – contender for Fight of the Year unfolded on Wednesday night in Brisbane, Australia.

In a widely anticipated middleweight rematch, Jeff Horn avenged his loss to Michael Zerafa in August, outgrinding his domestic rival and scoring two knockdowns in the pivotal ninth round en route to a majority decision in front of a sold-out crowd at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

One judge had it a draw at 94-94, while the two others had it 98-90 and 97-92 in favor of the Queenslander Horn, who came into the fight wearing gloves with Zerafa’s name printed on the thumb. Horn, best known for his upset decision over Manny Pacquiao at welterweight in 2017, clearly meant business, and the fight played out as such.

The tone was set from the opening bell, with Horn (20-2-1, 13 KOs) storming out of his corner with gusto. The two traded all fight long, but it was Horn who had the upper hand in the exchanges. Horn consistently closed the distance and made sure to bring his roughhouse style to bear on Zerafa, who never seemed to get a handle on Horn this time aorund.

Michael Zerafa (right) had no excuses after his loss to rival Jeff Horn on Wednesday in Brisbane, Australia. Bradley Kanaris / Getty Images

In the first fight, Zerafa (27-4, 16 KOs) knocked out Horn in the ninth round and it appeared early in the same round in this match that he might get the same result. Aware that he was well behind on the cards, Zerafa came out with a blinding onslaught of punches that had Horn bloodied and nearly out on this feet.

But Horn would receive an assist at that point, when referee John Cauci called a timeout to examine Horn’s brutal cut and he had time to recover. With a minute left in the round, Horn roared back, dropping Zerafa with a right hand. Moments later, he followed up with another right that had Zerafa down a second time.

Zerafa survived but this was Horn’s night.

Said Zerafa afterward: “There were no excuses.”

Anthony Joshua could fight at Tottenham instead of occupied Wembley

Anthony Joshua’s next fight could take place in a new venue. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium officials have been keen on hosting the heavyweight.

If Anthony Joshua’s next fight takes place in his hometown of London, don’t expect it to take place at Wembley Stadium.

Promoter Eddie Hearn told The Independent that a scheduling conflict might prevent Joshua from fighting at the 90,000-seat venue, which has become the de facto home for the British heavyweight who regained his titles from Andy Ruiz Jr. this past Saturday in Saudi Arabia. Instead, Joshua and Co. might turn to another soccer stadium nearby.

“Wembley does not look great, date wise,” Hearn said. “Tottenham Hotspur is a nice new stadium for a U.K. fight and we have to look at it.”

The stadium, named for the popular soccer club, has a seating capacity of 62,000. It opened its doors in April.

“The phone has gone crazy with people saying ‘bring him here, bring him here,’” Hearn said.

Joshua is expected to face one of his mandatory challengers in Oleksandr Usyk or Kubrat Pulev.

Hearn said Joshua wants to fight back home after having traveled for both of his fights of 2019, a loss to Ruiz in New York and the victory in the Middle East.

“People have seen what we have just done in Saudi Arabia,” Hearn said, “and there are a lot of options internationally, but A.J. wants to box back in the U.K.”

Ruiz-Joshua II: Construction of 15,000-seat arena well underway

The site of the Anthony Joshua vs. Andy Ruiz rematch is coming along well, according to Eddie Hearn, who posted updates on his social media.

It appears the biggest rematch of the year will have a home.

When it was announced in September that Anthony Joshua vs. Andy Ruiz II would take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, there was just one problem: An actual arena had to be built from scratch.

No biggie, it turns out. Promoter Eddie Hearn shared photos of the near-complete, 15,000-seat outdoor arena on his Instagram, adding, “haters said it wouldn’t be ready.”

Hearn’s decision to stage the fight in Saudi Arabia was not greeted universally with open arms. Many critics pointed out the country’s dreadful human rights record. But the site fee offered Saudi backers, reported to be at least $40 million, was too much to turn down.

Joshua recently traveled to Saudi Arabia and was given a tour of the construction site.

The rematch will stream live on DAZN.