Fury vs. Wilder III: Repeat or Revenge?
An edited version of this article was published on TheFightCity.com on 8th October, 2021: https://www.thefightcity.com/fury-vs-wilder-repeat-or-revenge-boxing/
It was almost six years ago that Tyson Fury travelled to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, and clambered into the ring to confront Deontay Wilder, after “the Bronze Bomber’s” emphatic KO of Artur Szpilka. Fresh off his title win over Wladimir Klitschko, a fired-up Fury grabbed the microphone to call out his rival belt holder.
“Anytime, anyplace, anywhere!… I’ll beat you, ya bum! You’re a bum!” yelled Fury, as Showtime’s Jim Gray struggled to regain control of the situation.
“I don’t play this… This ain’t wrestling, this ain’t the WWE… I promise you: when you step in this ring, I will baptize you!” retorted Wilder. Read more
Fury vs. Wilder II – The Breakdown
An edited version of this article was originally published on TheFightCity.com on February 21st, 2020: https://www.thefightcity.com/fury-vs-wilder-rematch-breakdown-boxing/
It seems strange to know so much about two fighters, what their strengths and weaknesses are, how their styles mesh against each other, and yet the outcome of a match-up between them to feel so unpredictable. That’s what we are getting in Fury-Wilder II, though: a true pick’em fight. Both came so tantalizingly close to victory in their 12-round draw in December 2018, and by such different methods, that it’s as easy to envisage Wilder blitzing his way to a knockout in the rematch as it is to imagine Fury befuddling his way to a clear decision. Oddsmakers on both sides of the Atlantic can barely split them – a sure sign that we are getting an excellent contest, and one that should take us an important step closer towards crowning a single heavyweight champion. Here, I look at some of the key factors that could determine Saturday’s winner. Read more
Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev: The End of an Aura
An edited version of this article was published on TheFightCity.com on January 30th, 2019: https://www.thefightcity.com/sergey-kovalev-aura-alvarez-boxing/
It’s surprising how far and how fast a fighter’s star can fall when a once-fearsome aura is finally burst. It’s not so long ago that Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev was blazing a trail of destruction through the light-heavyweight ranks, but it feels like an age. Read more
Why Tyson Fury Could Pull Off the Upset
An edited version of this article was originally published on TheFightCity.com on December 1st, 2018: https://www.thefightcity.com/gypsy-king-tyson-fury-boxing/
Almost exactly three years to the day since he defeated Wladimir Klitschko for the WBA, WBO, IBF and lineal heavyweight crown, Tyson Fury steps through the ropes this Saturday night to face Deontay Wilder for the WBC portion of the heavyweight championship. Unsurprisingly, given Fury’s well-documented battle with depression and drugs while ballooning up to almost 400lbs during his long layoff, he goes into this weekend’s fight as the betting underdog. Considering the dearth of elite competition Fury has faced since returning to the ring in June though, alongside the fact he is facing the most explosive heavyweight in the world, the odds are not quite as wide as one might expect. Can Tyson pull off the upset? Here’s five reasons why it just might be possible… Read more
Wilder vs. Ortiz & Boxing’s PED Problem
An edited version of this article was published on TheFightCity.com website on October 5th, 2017: https://www.thefightcity.com/wilder-vs-ortiz-drugs-boxing/
Last month boxing fans were treated to the news that WBC heavyweight champion, “The Bronze Bomber” Deontay Wilder (38-0, 37 KOs), would defend his title against one of the most feared contenders in the division, Luis “King Kong” Ortiz (27-0, 23 KOs). In what has already been a stellar year for the sport of boxing, this promised to be yet another excellent contest, with sharply contrasting perceptions of champion and challenger providing the backdrop for an intriguing clash of styles. Read more
Matt O'Brien
Boxing Philosophy 