Deontay Wilder vs.Tyson Fury 2: Boxing Predictions and Odds

One of the most anticipated boxing matches in years takes place Saturday night from Las Vegas when Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury stage their rematch for the heavyweight championship of the world. It’s a joint pay-per-view between ESPN and Fox.

Deontay Wilder (42-0-1) vs. Tyson Fury (29-0-1)

This is probably the most anticipated heavyweight fight since Mike Tyson was knocked out in 2002 by Lennox Lewis.

Wilder, a 34-year-old American, holds the WBC heavyweight belt, while Fury is the lineal champion. The 31-year-old Fury, from the United Kingdom, earned that honour when he beat then-lineal champion Wladimir Klitschko in a huge upset in November 2015. Klitschko essentially held every major belt then. Fury never defended the belts, though, as he had problems with drug and alcohol abuse as well as some mental health issues that nearly led to suicide. At one point, he was up to 400 pounds and was away from the ring for almost three years.

Fury and Wilder first tangled in December 2018 for Wilder’s WBC belt when they fought to a split decision draw, the only blemish on either’s record. It was easily one of the best boxing matches of this century. Fury was the superior boxer that night in Los Angeles, but Wilder knocked Fury down twice – including in the 12^th and final round. One judge from Mexico scored the fight 115-111 for Wilder, Canadian judge Robert Tapper had it 114-112 for Fury, and a British judge had it 113-113.

Most impartial observers thought Fury, who held a 44-pound weight advantage, should have won. He landed 84 of 327 punches, while Wilder connected on 71 of 430. In power shots, Fury landed 38 of 104 and Wilder 31 of 182. Wilder closed as the -145 favourite in that fight.

Wilder has power unlike few humans on the planet and has won 41 of his 42 bouts by knockout. He has fought twice since the first meeting, knocking out Dominic Breazeale in Round 1 and then Luis Ortiz in Round 7. Wilder is 6-foot-7 with a reach of 83 inches. The only guy other than Fury to take Wilder the distance was Bermane Stiverne in 2015.

Fury is 6-foot-9 with a reach of 85 inches. He has taken 20 of his 29 wins by KO. Fury also has fought twice since the first meeting, beating Tom Schwarz by second-round TKO and Otto Wallin by unanimous decision. Fury was cut badly around his right eye vs. Wallin – the referee almost stopped the bout — and Wilder says he plans to target that area.

In a move that surprised many in the boxing world, Fury in December dropped trainer Ben Davison in favour of Javan “SugarHill” Steward, the nephew of the late Hall of Famer Emmanuel Steward.

Wilder vs. Fury 2 Betting Odds

The over/under for rounds in the bout is 10.5, with the over a favourite. There’s already talk there will be a third fight between Wilder and Fury regardless of Saturday’s outcome. That is a trilogy clause in the fight contract and the loser has 30 days to enforce it. Down the road likely will be a fight between one of these two and American Anthony Joshua, who is the IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight champion. Joshua has been accused by some of ducking both these guys.