The bloody question persists.
Tyson Fury knows it’s coming. Only Deontay Wilder will deliver the answer on Feb. 22 in a Fox/ESPN pay-per-view rematch. The cut above Fury’s right eye has been healing for nearly five months since he needed 47 stitches for a wound sustained on Sept. 14 in a decision over Otto Wallin.
A month ago, he told Boxing Junkie that the eye was a risk. A week ago, he told Sky Sports that he couldn’t judge how much of risk it would be when the first blow lands two weeks from now.
“The eye is doing well,” Fury said. “The eye is healed up quite well. Is there any risk? I don’t know because I am not a surgeon. I am sure there will be. There is nothing much I can do about that.
“If it opens, up it opens up. It’s out of my control. There is nothing I can do about that eye opening in a fight.”
It’s not clear if Fury has a tactical plan to account for the risk. It’s not clear if there is one. He’s been working with new trainer SugarHill Steward in an attempt to add power to his punches, especially his right hand. He has talked about an early end to the heavyweight fight, predicting a knockout of Wilder within two rounds. It’s hard to know what will happen, but it’s safe to assume that Wilder will target that scar.
“Most definitely,’’ Wilder said. “I mean, that’s what you do. “I will absolutely be using that cut as a target, and I am definitely going to open it up again. I will make sure I open that one up and I’ll make sure I open a new one up, too.
“It’s going to be a bloody night for him, and all I can say to him is: ‘Buddy rest up.’ You’re going to need it, it’s going to be a long and painful night.”