In L.A., Tyson Fury Promises Hagler-Hearns Type Fight; Wilder Smiles

LOS ANGELES-It was a kinder, gentler meeting of heavyweights in the City of Angels when WBC titlist Deontay Wilder and lineal champion Tyson Fury met on Monday.

Perhaps Wilder’s meeting Pope Francis had an effect.

Before a throng of media cameras, videographers, reporters and promotion representatives at the Novo Theater at LA Live, the giant heavyweights hyped their upcoming rematch on Feb. 22 like two old friends.

After all, anything else would be uncivilized.

Wilder (42-0-1, 41 KOs) will clash with Fury (29-0-1, 20 KOs) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Feb. 22. Their heavyweight world title fight will be shown on FOX pay-per-view and ESPN pay-per-view.

Thirteen months ago the two undefeated heavyweights clashed 200 yards away at the Staples Center in L.A. where that city saw one of the best world championship fights ever held in the weight class. After 12 back and forth rounds including two knockdowns, the heavyweight world title fight ended in a split draw.

But oh, what a fight.

A lot has changed since that first encounter, Fury signed a promotional contract with Top Rank and former hostilities with Premier Boxing Champions and its affiliates have ceased between the two boxing entities.

It’s time to make money and make fights.

In the press conference the two basketball tall heavyweights stood side by side on the elevated stage reminding all that today’s prizefighters in the unlimited weight class are much taller than yesteryear.

“Today’s heavyweights are 6’8″, 6’9,” said Sugar Hill Steward who now trains Fury. “The heavyweight division is still the biggest and most powerful division in boxing. It always will be. Everyone wants to see the fighters throwing the big blows. Wilder is one of the hardest hitters in history and Tyson is one of the best boxers.”

Together they are part of a resurgence in the heavyweight division that became dormant for nearly 20 years after Lennox Lewis retired.

“We talk about boxing having a renaissance, but it’s really about the heavyweight division. That’s what is going to create that renaissance more than anything right now,” said Todd duBoef, president of Top Rank.

Just last month Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz battled in Saudi Arabia and generated more than a million views for their heavyweight clash. This heavyweight clash should be just as successful.

Both heavyweights are confident but amiably optimistic that each will be the victor.

“Let’s make it a Marvin Hagler vs. Tommy Hearns type of fight. I’ll meet you in the middle of the ring on February 22. Just watch out for the right hand, because you’re going to sleep in two rounds,” said Fury in a reasonable tone.

Wilder smiled at the notion.

“When you’re facing power there’s no way around it. You can’t prepare for that. You just have to hope that when it lands, it doesn’t do that much damage,” said Wilder. “He doesn’t even know how he got on the ground or how he got up in the first fight. He’s been dealing with feeling ever since the end of the first fight.”

Tom Brown, president of TGB Promotions expects even more violence than the first.

“We have two superstars here. The best two heavyweights in the world,” said Brown who promoted their first encounter in Los Angeles on Dec. 1, 2018. “These are the best in boxing. There is nothing like a big heavyweight championship fight. We have the undefeated hardest punching, the most feared heavyweight in the world and I believe one of the all-time great heavyweights in Deontay Wilder.”

Todd duBoef adds that the pair of heavyweights elevate the division with their moxie.

“Tyson is so true, so gritty and he backs it up with everything he does. When you combine it with Deontay Wilder, you have two great personalities. This is really the beginning of the next super heavyweight run for the sport of boxing,” said duBoef.

Anything resembling Hagler-Hearns would be uncivilized.

Photo credit: Al Applerose

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