Fury vs. Wilder III: Fight Report
An edited version of this article was published on TheFightCity.com on 10th October, 2021: https://www.thefightcity.com/fight-report-fury-vs-wilder-iii-boxing/
When a world heavyweight title fight delivers all it promises to be, the drama is unparalleled. There have been great heavyweight trilogies in the past: together, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier carved their names into history during the sport’s golden era, and more recently Evander Holyfield and Riddick Bowe fought three epic battles in the 1990s. It is no exaggeration to say that Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder’s trilogy, and the instant classic they delivered last night, will sit alongside these and so many other great rivalries of the past. You really couldn’t ask for more, or expect two men to give more of themselves, in a boxing match. Read more
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
Tyson Fury TKO7 Deontay Wilder: 2020 Performance of the Year
An edited version of this article was originally published on TheFightCity.com on 8th January, 2021: https://www.thefightcity.com/2020-performance-of-the-year-tyson-fury-boxing/
After a nail-biting finish to their first encounter in December 2018, which saw Tyson Fury largely outbox Deontay Wilder before having to twice peel himself off the canvas only to earn a draw, the stage was set for another finely balanced contest in their February rematch. Logic seemed to indicate one of two likely outcomes: either Fury would outbox his undefeated rival again, only this time avoid getting clipped like in the first fight and so take a clear decision, or else Wilder’s wrecking ball right hand would find Fury’s chin again, only this time he wouldn’t get off the deck. Read more
The New Sugar Man Arrives: Shane Mosley W12 Oscar De La Hoya
An edited version of this article was originally published on TheFightCity.com on June 17th, 2020: https://www.thefightcity.com/june-17-de-la-hoya-vs-mosley-los-angeles-boxing/
It was the summer of 2000. Still drunk on the optimism of the New Millennium, the world was a happier, less volatile place. The social media giants that dominate our lives today did not even exist. The tragedy of 9/11 and the “War on Terror” that lay in its wake had yet to unfold. Bill Clinton was presiding over his eighth and final year in the White House, while a Donald Trump presidency was still just a joke in The Simpsons. 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
Matt O'Brien
Boxing Philosophy 