Heavyweight

Tyson Fury defeated Deontay Wilder via seventh-round TKO in a battle between two undefeated heavyweight boxing champions Saturday in Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Wilder's corner threw in the towel on his behalf, but the Tuscaloosa, Alabama, native said post-fight that he wanted to go out on his own terms:

“I just wish that my corner would’ve let me go out on my shield. I’m a warrior. That’s what I do.”

Deontay Wilder after losing to Tyson Fury. #WilderFury2 pic.twitter.com/5QpChJgjK8

— ESPN (@espn) February 23, 2020

Fury dominated the match: Per CompuBox, he landed 58 power punches on the night, or 20 fewer than when he and Wilder fought to a split decision in December 2018.

Fury was also dominating on the scorecards at the time of the TKO, per Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports:

Official scores pic.twitter.com/oxjHqQ6rAU

— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) February 23, 2020

The judges had the fight 59-52, 58-53 and 59-52 in Fury's favor. One judge gave Wilder the edge in the second round. Otherwise, Fury was deemed the better fighter throughout.

Although Wilder was upset, throwing in the towel was likely the right decision.

Fury was pummeling a near-defenseless Wilder in the corner at the time, and that was after at least one boxing analyst (Chisanga Malata of the Daily Express) posited that the boxer's corner should consider the act:

Deontay Wilder’s corner really need to think about their’s man’s safety and consider throwing the towel in.

His equilibrium is clearly f**ked by the shots Fury has landed and his burst eardrum. #WilderFury2

— Chisanga Malata (@Chisanga_Malata) February 23, 2020

It happened, and Wilder lost his first fight in 44 professional bouts.

As for what's ahead, Wilder has the right to a rematch, with Mike Coppinger of The Athletic laying out the parameters:

"There's a bi-lateral rematch clause, so Deontay Wilder will have 30 days to exercise his right to an immediate encore encounter for a trilogy fight with Tyson Fury that could take place in the summer," Coppinger tweeted.

"But after such a one-sided fight, will we see a third bout?"

For now, there's no disputing that Fury is the world's best heavyweight.

The highly anticipated rematch between heavyweight boxing champions Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder has broken the weight class' Las Vegas gate record, per Top Rank President Todd duBoef (h/t ESPN's Brett Okamoto):

Tonight's heavyweight title fight between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder has officially broken the record for a heavyweight gate in Las Vegas, according to Top Rank president Todd duBoef. The previous record was set in 1999 by Lewis/Holyfield II at $16,860,300 at Thomas & Mack.

— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) February 23, 2020

15,816 is the paid attendance for #WilderFury2. A sell-out at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

$16.9 million live gate. Highest grossing gate ever for a heavyweight title fight in Nevada.

— Greg Rosenstein (@grosenstein) February 23, 2020

Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports noted that the fight has set a record in terms of dollar amount but that the rematch between Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis in 1999 is still No. 1 when adjusted for inflation:

Adjusted for inflation, the $16.88 million Holyfield-Lewis 2 gate would be $25.87 million. But in terms of pure dollars, tonight's gate is the heavyweight record. The world record is $72.1 million by Mayweather and Pacquiao in 2015.

— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) February 23, 2020

Fury and Wilder, who are both undefeated, are set to fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday. The two fought to a split decision in December 2018.

Wilder and Fury are also set to make well into the seven figures for this fight, with Iole reporting Thursday that they'll each get $5 million purses in addition to pay-per-view cuts.

The latest Caesars Palace odds list Wilder as a -135 favorite ($135 bet to win $100). Wilder winning by knockout, TKO or disqualification is -120.

Fury is a +115 underdog ($100 bet to win $115).

The 34-year-old Wilder is 42-0-1 with 41 knockouts. Only one of his wins has come via decision, and it was a unanimous one against Bermane Stiverne in January 2015.

The 31-year-old Fury is 29-0-1 with 20 knockouts. He has fought twice since facing Fury, beating Tom Schwarz by second-round TKO and Otto Wallin via unanimous decision.

Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury have waited 14 months to prove who is the better boxer, and they'll finally  get to settle the debate on Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

After the two fought to an exhilarating draw in December 2018, Wilder will again put his WBC world heavyweight title on the line against Fury, who lays claim to the lineal championship in boxing's biggest division.

The two can't seem to wait to get into the ring again. They got into brief a shoving match at a pre-fight press conference on Wednesday:

The fight's on Saturday but Wilder and Fury are starting early 🔥 @br_betting https://t.co/8vzSWVJyAW

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 19, 2020

The pressure here is undeniable. Wilder's power has propelled him to the top of a brutal and difficult sport, but he's faced criticism for his lack of top-shelf opposition. The heavyweight division hasn't had much to offer in recent years, but the Bronze Bomber has now beaten the likes of Luis Ortiz twice, and conquering Fury would be his biggest accomplishment yet.

Fury (29-0-1, 20 KOs) is one of only two fighters to reach the final bell against Wilder (42-0-1, 41 KOs). He hasn't lost since defeating the then-undisputed champion Wladimir Klitschko in 2015, but there was no reign at the top for the Gypsy King.

The 31-year-old spent two-plus years away from the ring, battling drug and mental health issues. He's managed four wins and one draw in his comeback, but Wilder is the only truly dangerous opponent he's faced in that time. Fury needs to win to prove his championship victory was no fluke.

It's a career-defining fight for both men, and the winner will be in prime position to set up a unification fight with Anthony Joshua, which would be one of the biggest and most lucrative heavyweight bouts in years.

           

Wilder vs. Fury 2 Fight Info

When: Saturday, Feb. 22 at 9 p.m. ET (main event will begin at approximately 11 p.m. ET) 

Where: MGM Grand in Las Vegas

TV: Fox (pay-per-view), BT Sport Box Office (UK only, pay-per-view)

Live stream: ESPN+ and Fox Sports Go (pay-per-view)

Odds to win: Wilder -125 (bet $125 to win $100), Fury +105 (bet $100 to win $105), Draw +2,000

Over/under 10.5 rounds: Over -130, Under +110

Odds are courtesy of Caesars Palace and updated as of Thursday, Feb. 20 at 7 a.m. ET.

Wilder is the most dangerous man in boxing. His right hand is a thermonuclear weapon that renders all the best strategies, tactics and physical skills moot. If he dials up the launch codes, you better hope he doesn't find his target.

The 34-year-old isn't afraid to give away rounds at a time waiting for an opportunity to throw a sharp, swift one-two and put an end to proceedings. It's essentially what he did in his last fight against Ortiz, when he stunned the big Cuban in the seventh round after doing next to nothing in the first six.

Even when facing a talented boxers like Ortiz or Fury, Wilder knows the pressure is on his opponent to never break concentration.

"Fighting a guy like Fury, you have to be careful," he said in January, per SportingNews.com's Steven Muehlhausen. "Time goes by so fast in the ring. You're trying to do everything that you prepared for. With what he brings to the table with his boxing skills, you have to have some awareness of the clock. But with my power, it's his job to really watch the clock and try to avoid me for 36 minutes."

Wilder will paw with the jab, using his long limbs to advance on his opponent and cut off the ring. If he can get his rival lined up, he'll attack. The Alabamian is far from insecure. He knows he doesn't need to dazzle, and it's difficult to lure him out of his comfort zone.

Fury, on the other hand, lives to make his opposition uncomfortable.

A born jester, he will trash talk, make funny faces, and use outlandish ring walks to get under his opponent's skin. He has surprisingly quick feet for a man who stands 6'9", and his 85-inch reach allows him to circle and jab from a distance most fighters can only dream of (Wilder's reach is 83 inches by comparison).

If the Briton wants to get in close and wrap up a guy, all of a sudden they have a heavy trunk leaning on them and a forest of limbs to fight through. 

Those tactics helped Fury nearly defeat Wilder the first time around, and they may yet work again. However, he is working with a new trainer this time around in Javan "SugarHill" Steward and has been insisting he's going to make quick work of Wilder.

"We are going to pressure and pressure, put him on the back foot from round one and keep him there," Fury told BBC Sport's Luke Reddy.

"It's going to be an early night. I'm coming for the knockout."

It's a dangerous route to take for the Mancunian. He can't make any mistakes by being aggressive and going for the knockout. He suffered a deep gash in his last fight against Otto Wallin in September. The Swede wasn't able to take advantage of a blood-soaked Fury, but Wilder surely can.

It's entirely possible all the knockout talk is just a bluff, designed to keep Wilder thinking early on while Fury banks a few rounds with the jab. Then again, the British fighter might actually believe it's the best route to victory.

In their first meeting, Fury was knocked down in the ninth and 12th rounds. He got up both times, but there's no guarantee he can do it again. Perhaps he knows that 2,160 seconds is far too many to dance between the ropes with Wilder. It's a long time to stay perfect. 

There's also evidence Wilder's chin may be vulnerable. It hasn't been tested all that often considering he's had dozens of very brief fights, but Ortiz looked like he had the champion on the ropes in the seventh round of their first battle in 2018.

If there's something on that tape Fury believes he can emulate, it could be the shortest path to him holding a heavyweight title once again.

           

The boxers' height and reach information are courtesy of BoxRec.com

Deontay Wilder will put his WBC world heavyweight title on the line on Saturday when he takes on Tyson Fury in a rematch fans have been clamoring for ever since the judges came to a split-decision draw in their first fight in December 2018.

That bout was an epic battle which ended with one of the most thrilling rounds in recent years. Wilder, the hardest puncher in the sport at the moment, clubbed Fury in the 12th round with a hard right followed by a textbook left hook to the skull.

The elusive Fury had outboxed the American for long stretches of the fight and survived an earlier knockdown in the ninth round, but he looked destined to become another one of the Bronze Bomber's many KO victims. Incredibly, the Briton picked himself up from the canvas and finished the fight.

It was the first time either man had tasted anything over than victory in a professional boxing match, and the two remain undefeated heading into Saturday's clash at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.  

            

Wilder vs. Fury 2 Fight Info

When: Saturday, Feb. 22 at 9 p.m. ET

Where: MGM Grand in Las Vegas

TV: Fox (pay-per-view), BT Sport Box Office (UK only, pay-per-view)

Live stream: ESPN+, Fox Sports Go (pay-per-view)

Odds (Caesars Palace): Wilder -125 (bet $125 to win $100), Fury +105 (bet $100 to win $105)

             

For Fury (29-0-1, 20 KOs), a win would represent the culmination of a long and difficult comeback journey after he nearly threw away his career in the two years following his win over then-undisputed champion Wladimir Klitschko in 2015.

The self-styled Gypsy King would once again be a world titleholder with victory Saturday, and thanks to his brash persona, he would be able to call the shots in the heavyweight division.

A win for Wilder (42-0-1, 41 KOs) would go a long way toward cementing his legacy as one of most fearsome and accomplished heavyweights of any era. In 43 career fights, only Fury and Bermane Stiverne have made it to the final bell.

Wilder has been criticized for his lack of all-around boxing acumen, but his power is undeniable. He's made a great career out of utilizing a long jab and patiently waiting for opportunities to land his power shots. A win over Fury would be silence some of his critics.

So who gets the glory? TalkSport's Michael Benson rounded up the opinions of several current and former heavyweights. Of the eight boxers cited, four are backing Fury (including Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk), three are in Wilder's camp (Charles Martin, Lennox Lewis and David Haye), while one (Dillian Whyte) was undecided.

Haye thinks Wilder gets a stoppage this time around. 

"Fury boxed brilliantly first time around, that was with Ben Davison in his corner. He doesn't have Ben in the corner this time," he told BT Sport (h/t Benson).

"In his last fight, he got a couple of horrendous cuts over his eye. That could open up again, which would mean he'd have the same fight with one eye."

Fury was roughed up by Otto Wallin in what was supposed to be an easy tuneup fight in September. The deep gash has only had a few months to heal. If Wilder splits him again, the 31-year-old will be in deep trouble.

His path to victory likely rests on him using his slick defensive ability and 6'9" frame to frustrate Wilder. It worked well in the first match, and Fury had lots of success with jabbing and moving. If he gets hurt early, though, it becomes a nervy fight for survival against a guy with near-mythic power.

Over at The Ring magazine, they polled 20 people in and around the boxing world, including writers, trainers, boxers, promoters and others. That list favors the champion, with 12 backing Wilder and eight picking Fury to win.

Manager Vadim Kornilov thinks Fury can win, but he noted he might have to be perfect to do so.

"I think Fury is the better boxer and if he doesn't make any mistakes can get the victory," he said. "In reality, it's a 50-50 fight considering Wilder's power which can end the fight at any moment. Fury on points."

This fight may lack the action of the first match with so much at stake for both fighters, but the tension will be close to unbearable throughout. Every second in the ring is an opportunity for Wilder to unleash a one-two and end Fury's night. The danger is always lurking.

Fury's unpredictable nature and the untested pairing with manager Javan "SugarHill" Steward makes him an incredible cypher coming into this fight.

Just about everyone knows what they are going to get from Wilder. The version of Fury that shows up Saturday night could go a long way toward deciding the outcome of this one.

Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury will soon face off in one of the most hotly anticipated rematches in boxing. After an instant classic in Los Angeles in December 2018, in which Fury survived a 12th-round knockdown by Wilder's famously powerful right hand to earn a draw, the two will look to finally prove who is the better heavyweight on Feb. 22 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.

Both fighters are big, bold trash talkers and undefeated. Wilder (42-0-1, 41 KOs) is the champion here, as he holds the WBC world heavyweight title. Fury (29-0-1, 20 KOs) likes to lay claim to the unofficial lineal heavyweight championship. He beat Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015 when Klitschko was the undisputed champion, and he hasn't been defeated since then. However, he has no actual title to carry into the ring Feb. 22.

Whoever wins will not only have a belt, but will likely call themselves the top heavyweight and possibly try to set up a megafight with Anthony Joshua, a titleholder once again after redeeming himself against Andy Ruiz Jr. in December.

Here are the latest odds and what you need to know to watch the fight.

        

Wilder vs. Fury 2 Odds, Fight Info

When: Saturday, Feb. 22 at 9 p.m. ET

Where: MGM Grand in Las Vegas

TV: Fox PPV

Live stream: Fox PPV and ESPN+ PPV

Winner Odds: Wilder -120 (bet $120 to win $100), Fury +100 (bet $100 to win $100)

Over/under: 10.5 rounds

     

Predictions

The oddsmakers are fairly split on this one. Wilder is a slight favorite, perhaps because he looked better the last time out. The 34-year-old knockout artist was patient against the skilled, determined Luiz Ortiz in a November rematch. He bided his time and waited for Ortiz to make a mistake and leave an opening, sending him crashing to the mat for good with a vicious right hand in the seventh round.

Fury, on the other hand, took a pounding in his most recent match against Otto Wallin in September. Wallin opened up a deep gash over Fury's eye in the third round, forcing the tall, lanky heavyweight to use all of his tricks and pugilistic wisdom to earn a decision that the referee could have taken away had he called the match off early, where Wallin looked the better fighter. Fury survived the ordeal, preserving the megafight against Wilder in the process.

As for singular predictions, one person who hasn't been afraid to share his feelings is MMA superstar Conor McGregor. The Irishman is backing Fury, the Irish Traveller, on Feb. 22.

"He's got a good tough fight, Deontay is a powerful guy," McGregor told BT Sport (h/t Metro's Coral Barry).

"But I think if he keeps his mind strong and keeps his playfulness in there and his sharpness and his elusiveness, I think he can do the job."

Fury is indeed the more skilled boxer. He's elusive and agile for a 6'9" behemoth, capable of playing careful defense and scoring points with a long jab from his tree-trunk arms. Sometimes, it looks incredible, while at other times it can bog down a match. Fury has to be able to avoid Wilder's knockout attempts while still generating enough offense to impress the judges.

Boxer and analyst Abner Mares has also weighed in on the fight on Twitter:

Who wins Wilder Vs Fury 2 ??? I have Wilder by KO in the 8th round and if it goes the distance I have him also winning by split decisions.. yes I have him winning a decision

— ABNER MARES (@abnermares) February 7, 2020

Mares has Wilder winning on points, which may come as a surprise to some. Wilder often concedes rounds as he searches for an opportunity to detonate with his lethal right hand. Fury, 31, seems well-positioned to take advantage of that fight plan, but he has to show he's in control. The first match went to a draw because Wilder was able to hurt Fury with stiff jabs of his own in several rounds. If Fury is too cautious, Wilder might not even need to match him blow for blow because his shots tend to do more damage.

Wilder also believes he's more than just a one-trick pony.

"Of course I can win a fight on the scorecards. Anything is possible in boxing. I'm not worried about my boxing IQ or my level of skill. I'm very confident in what I do and say and that makes me who I am," said Wilder, per BoxingScene.com's Manouk Akopyan. "That's why I'm still undefeated, and every fighter has tasted the canvas. You're witnessing history."

Fury, meanwhile, is talking up his ability to finish Wilder before the judges have a chance to weigh in.

"Deontay knows he was rocked three or four times in the last fight and I didn't have the gas to finish him. This time I can turn that screwdriver until he is gone," said Fury, per PA Media (h/t the Guardian). Fury added Wilder would be knocked out in the second round.

No matter how it goes down, fans will be clamoring for a clear-cut winner this time. The victorious boxer will be in prime position to dictate the heavyweight division and potentially set up a unification bout with Joshua.

    

Odds courtesy of Caesars Palace and updated as of Monday, Feb. 10.

Boxing's biggest fight of 2019 is on Saturday, and it's an epic world heavyweight title rematch few saw coming. Anthony Joshua will get a second chance at Andy Ruiz Jr., the late replacement who shocked the world in June when he fought back from an early knockdown and stopped Joshua in the seventh round, snapping up four heavyweight titles in the process.

The stunning win turned Ruiz—a doughy, baby-faced fighter begging to be underestimated—into a superstar overnight. The loss has reoriented Joshua's career arc. Suffer defeat against Deontay Wilder or Tyson Fury? Sure, that's acceptable. This, however, wasn't part of the plan.

Ruiz is now out to prove he is more than a Buster Douglas, capable of defending the titles nobody thought he could win. Joshua is looking to avenge his first professional loss and show he can become one of the division's greats.

Billed as the "Clash on the Dunes," Saturday's bout will take place in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, a town on the outer edges of the country's capital city of Riyadh. The venue is the Diriyah Arena, a 15,000-seat stadium that was built in a matter of weeks specifically for this fight. 

The world will be watching. Here's how to tune in.

        

Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Anthony Joshua 2 Fight Info

When: Saturday, Dec. 7 at 12 p.m. ET (main event roughly 3:45 p.m. ET, per DAZN)

Where: Diriyah Arena in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia

TV: Sky Sports Box Office (UK, pay-per-view)

Live stream: DAZN (subscription required)

Odds: Joshua -200 (bet $200 to win $100), Ruiz Jr. +175 (bet $100 to win $175)

Odds are courtesy of Caesars and updated as of Thursday, Dec. 5 at 7 a.m. ET.

       

Part of Ruiz's charm is how thoroughly he incinerated most people's expectations of the bout. He was only in the ring because the original contender, Jarrell Miller, failed multiple drug tests. There were some solid wins on his resume, but nothing spectacular. With his round figure and short-ish arms, he looked perfectly cast to serve as cannon fodder to the tall, handsome, impossibly-chiseled Joshua.

But then Ruiz started punching, and aside from a second-round knockdown, he was clearly the better boxer. Ruiz dropped Joshua four times before the referee decided the champion had had enough. The spell was broken.

Ruiz, 30, is a great counter-puncher, a long-time student of the sweet science with a good head on his shoulders. Joshua has torn through most of his opponents with breathtaking ease, but nothing in the buildup to this match suggests he is treating the loss as a fluke. The first heavyweight champion of Mexican descent is not going to be easy to beat.

"As soon I got back from New York, I didn't lose any heart, I didn't lose any fire in my belly, and I went straight back to hitting the heavy bag at Finchley ABC," Joshua said, per the Guardian's Sean Ingle. "There is no fear in my heart, no fear in my eyes, no fear in my mind."

Some observers, like TheFightCity.com's Lee Wylie, feel Joshua needs to take care of the basics to win back his belts:

Exactly. If AJ steps forward with the jab, he makes it easier for Ruiz to slip inside and throw the overhand. How does AJ nullify Ruiz’s looping counters? By throwing off his timing with feints, mixing up his jab, and by not allowing him to set his feet. https://t.co/uNzwPFeBor

— Lee Wylie (@leewylieboxing) December 1, 2019

It does seem like the 30-year-old Joshua is preparing for a difficult, careful night of boxing, slimming down and shedding some of the muscles in the hopes of improving his stamina. A well-executed strategy combined with his height and reach advantage should allow him to win rounds. Ruiz will likely to be looking to throw swift combinations again and try to get through the holes in Joshua's defense. If Joshua does get into trouble, he did show he has the strength to send Ruiz to the canvas. It's something that might get easier if the Englishman can extend the fight.

While Joshua has had to plenty to think about over the last six months, Ruiz has had the comfort of knowing he can win in Riyadh if he can essentially repeat his strategy and tactics from June in New York City. In the final press conference before the fight, Ruiz made his part sound rather simple.

"I know he lost weight, I know he's gonna try to box me around, but it's just my job to prevent that, you know. So I'm ready for whatever comes my way and I'm ready to rock n' roll," he said, per Bad Left Hook's Will Esco.

Ruiz has fine hand speed for a heavyweight and should still be able to land shots even if Joshua brings a more disciplined jab to the fight. A couple of the rounds in the first fight were cagey, and Ruiz didn't really start firing until Joshua sent him to the canvas. He might be equally comfortable in a chess match or a brawl against Joshua.

Ruiz will certainly be motivated, because his star can fall as quickly as it rose. Despite being an affable, friendly figure, he's not as easy to sell to the masses as the other big names in the division. Lose to Joshua badly, and he'll likely have to navigate a few difficult fights before getting another title shot. If he wins, or maybe comes up just short, Ruiz can stay in the championship circuit and go after the likes of Fury and Wilder.

He wasn't supposed to be in this position, but that's irrelevant now. Ruiz is the champion, and it's up to Joshua, the contender, to stop him.

Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury have been on a collision course ever since their thrilling first fight ended in a draw in December 2018. The heavyweights decided to each take two interim fights ahead of their rematch, reportedly penciled in for Feb. 22.

While Fury played it safe by lining up Tom Schwarz and Otto Wallin (the latter turned out to be more difficult than anyone imagined), Wilder (41-0-1, 40 KOs) is taking a significant risk with a rematch against Luis Ortiz (31-1, 26 KOs) on Saturday in Las Vegas.

In their first bout back in March 2018, Ortiz came achingly close to stopping Wilder in a furious seventh round at the Barclay's Center in New York. The big Cuban was unable to close the deal, and Wilder bounced back by knocking out Ortiz with a vicious uppercut in the 10th frame.

Wilder must be confident he has Ortiz, a top-10 heavyweight, all figured out, because he's risking losing his WBC world title three months before a megafight with Fury, considered by many to be the division's lineal champion. A loss would greatly dampen the enthusiasm for that bout and might force promoters to reschedule it so Wilder can try to get his belt back.

Ortiz, 40, should be laser-focused for this fight. It likely represents his last chance to make history by becoming the first Cuban to win a heavyweight world title. 

Saturday's pay-per-view card also features Leo Santa Cruz taking on Miguel Flores for the vacant WBA super featherweight world title. Santa Cruz has long dominated the featherweight ranks and will now be making his debut at 130 pounds.

Here's how to watch.

     

Deontay Wilder vs. Luis Ortiz Fight Info

When: Saturday, Nov. 23, at 9 p.m. ET (main card)

Where: MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas

TV: Sky Sports Action (UK), Fox Sports pay-per-view (US)

Live stream: Fox Sports (pay-per-view, $74.99 US)

Odds: Wilder -700 (bet $700 to win $100), Ortiz (bet $100 to win $500)

Odds are courtesy of Caesars and updated as of Thursday, Nov. 21 at 7 a.m. ET.

       

There are plenty of reasons to expect Saturday's fight won't last a full 12 rounds. For one, both fighters insist they are going to end the night early. Wilder, well aware of how close he came to defeat in the first fight, seems intent on finishing off Ortiz as quickly as possible.

"He has to be perfect for 12 rounds. I only have to be perfect for two seconds and—bam, baby, good night," he said, per ESPN.com's Dan Rafael.

Wilder's right hand is the most lethal in the sport, a weapon so potent that the 34-year-old has been able to reach the pinnacle of the sport without having to develop a deep repertoire of combinations or perfect his technique.

A pawing jab followed by a right cross is elementary stuff, but that's all it takes with Wilder on most nights. His right hand detonated on Dominic Breazeale in the first round of their fight in May, sending the 6'7" colossus crumbling to the mat like a skyscraper mid-demolition. Wilder believes Ortiz won't be able to survive much longer.

It's a typical boast, but you get the sense Wilder is right; Ortiz does need to be perfect on Saturday. As a southpaw, Ortiz has to be careful about opening up lanes for the orthodox Wilder to send his right hand. His defense has to be impeccable while he looks to score points and go for the KO himself.

"This is not going 12 rounds," Ortiz told Rafael through an interpreter. "Either he knocks me out or I knock him out, and I wish there was no bell between rounds so we could just keep going."

Bermane Stiverne and Fury are the only two boxers to go a full 12 frames with Wilder. Fury managed to avoid Wilder's payoff punch until the last round, and a miraculous recovery from the knockdown allowed him to salvage a draw. Ortiz is much older and not nearly as slick defensively as Fury. It's unlikely he can avoid punishment for a full 36 minutes.

According to CBS Sports' Brian Campbell, Ortiz blames his loss to Wilder on bad cardio, which left him unable to finish the job when he had Wilder dazed in the seventh round. Campbell has noted Ortiz is now cutting a slimmer figure, hoping better stamina can propel him to victory this time around. However, being in better shape won't mean much if old age has quietly eroded his sharpness and reflexes. Every second Ortiz is in range of Wilder's right hands means he's in mortal danger, and a single mistake could land him in the hospital. 

Ortiz has won three fights since losing to Wilder, the most recent a 12-round, unanimous decision over Christian Hammer in March. He's done everything he can to set up a last shot at championship glory. Wilder is boxing's most dangerous puncher, and he has plenty riding on this match. Ortiz may have learned his lesson from the first fight, but if Wilder has answered his own riddles in the interim, he should be able to reach a similar outcome on Saturday.

Deontay Wilder will put his unbeaten record and WBC heavyweight championship on the line against Luis Ortiz on Nov. 23.

Per ESPN's Dan Rafael, the rematch between Wilder and Ortiz at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas was officially announced Saturday.

Their first matchup in March 2018 was a close back-and-forth battle that Wilder won by TKO in the 10th round. The Bronze Bomber overcame a slow start to finish with three knockdowns, including in the decisive round.

Per CompuBox Stats, Wilder had the advantage in total punches landed (98-87), but Ortiz landed more power punches (63-60) and was more accurate with them (43.4 to 38.7 percent).

During Saturday's official announcement, Wilder described Ortiz as the most difficult opponent he's gone up against:

"When I fought Ortiz, not only did he have the pedigree, but also he had the classification of being the boogeyman of the division. I agree with those who say that Luis Ortiz was my toughest fight to date. No one wanted to fight him and they still don't. In the rematch there's more confidence and more motivation to do what I have to do. I've already seen the style before. It's going to make it more fun. I can't wait to see how he tries to handle me when I'm at my best."

Ortiz called Wilder "the best heavyweight in the world until someone beats him" and said "this is the most dangerous fight for" the WBC champion.

King Kong has won his last three fights, including two by knockout, since losing to Wilder.

If Wilder is able to prevail against Ortiz for a second time, Rafael noted he will get a rematch with Tyson Fury currently scheduled for Feb. 22.

Tyson Fury has a plan, and it will inevitably involve getting punched in the face.

The former world heavyweight champion is facing a tune-up opponent in Otto Wallin (20-0, 13 KOs) on Saturday night in Las Vegas. While he maintains he's not looking past the undefeated Wallin, Fury (28-0-1, 20 KOs) has already mapped out his dream fight schedule for 2020. 

TalkSport.com's Michael Benson provided the details:

📋 Tyson Fury has named his dream four-fight plan to take him through to the end of 2020: [@BTSportBoxing]

📆 Sept 14th - Otto Wallin
📆 Feb 22nd - Deontay Wilder II
📆 June - Deontay Wilder III
📆 Dec - Andy Ruiz/Anthony Joshua

— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) September 10, 2019

Fury is intent on getting back in the ring with Deontay Wilder after the two fought to a memorable draw in December 2018. In fact, he wants to face the Bronze Bomber twice, even though Wilder nearly handed him his first loss with a 12th-round knockdown that would have likely kept 99 out of 100 fighters stuck to the canvas.

It's the kind of ambition everyone likes to see out of the top fighters, especially in an era where so many dream matchups exist only in the imaginations of fight fans. 

For the dreams to come to fruition, Fury will have to take care of Wallin, his second-straight underwhelming opponent since facing Wilder. Earlier in the year, the 31-year-old made quick work of the dreadfully overmatched Tom Schwarz with a second-round TKO, though he did pack in plenty of entertainment in a short period of time.  

Fans tuning in on Saturday night will be hoping for a similar show to justify ponying up for what appears to be another mismatch.

        

Tyson Fury vs. Otto Wallin Fight Info

When: Saturday, Sep. 14 at 11 p.m. ET

Where: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas

TV: BT Sports Box Office (UK, pay-per-view)

Live stream: ESPN+

Odds: Fury -2500 (bet $2,500 to win $100, Wallin +1100 (bet $100 to win $1,100)

Odds courtesy of Caesars and updated as of Thursday, Sep. 12 at 7 a.m. ET.

        

Fury might not necessarily be on top of the heavyweight boxing world—that distinction probably goes to Andy Ruiz Jr. or Wilder—but you wouldn't know it from the way he acts.

After a couple of years of struggling with mental illness, drugs and alcohol following his famous win over then-undisputed heavyweight champ Wladimir Klitschko in 2015, Fury is clearly in a better place.

He's constantly clowning around, both on his own time and at his pre-fight press conferences. Fury could be seen cracking jokes and eliciting big smiles from Wallin just days before they are supposed to pummel each other with their fists. 

He's a big, rich man who makes his living in a nasty, brutal sport, but in interviews, he comes off as someone who is trying to stay on the narrow road to enlightenment.

Fury recently told BBC Sport's Luke Reddy he has found "happiness within himself" and is no longer looking for satisfaction in material things:

"I have really found out that happiness doesn't come from achievements or assets. It comes from within, with contentment of who you are. I can't be happier. If I had another 10 zeros on my bank balance it couldn't make me happier. I can only wear these shoes and sleep in one bed. You can only drive one car—if it's a Rolls Royce or piece of rubbish, they all do the same thing."

The fun-loving, peaceful demeanor is not an act, nor is it a sign Fury has lost his edge. He was just as silly in the buildup to the Schwarz fight, and he was utterly dominant. Fury has also credited his training with saving him, per Reddy, so the process of becoming one of the sport's top fighters is inextricably linked to his newfound happiness. 

When Fury is on his game, he's incredible to watch, with long, rubbery limbs, great head movement, tricky combinations and a flair for the dramatic.

This compilation from Boxing on BT Sport does a good job of showcasing how much fun Fury can be, even when he's on the defensive:

A man the size of Tyson Fury has no business moving that fast 🔥🤯 pic.twitter.com/UKiw0mRqPp

— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) September 9, 2019

The 6'9" behemoth with an 89-inch reach is going to be tough for Wallin, a 28-year-old from Sweden who hasn't fought anyone of note in his career and is fighting in the U.S. for just the second time.

His last bout was a no-contest against Nick Kisner in April. There's little to suggest Wallin is primed for an upset on Saturday, though Bloody Elbow's Fraser Coffeen noted his southpaw stance could give Fury something to think about:

"Fury doesn't have a tremendous amount of experience against southpaw fighters; in recent fights, Francesco Pianeta is the only one. Of course, Fury dominated him, but from a technical standpoint, you take what you can get if you're in the Wallin camp."

So maybe the southpaw strategy gives Fury one too many things to think about, and he eats a life-changing punch. That's what Wallin is hoping for here. He needs a distracted, unfocused Fury on Saturday night. Unfortunately for him, Fury appears plenty capable of flipping the switch when he needs to and buckling down on fight night. 

The hope here is that Fury can put on a show against another overmatched opponent on his way to picking up the victory—a necessary precursor to fighting Wilder in 2020. Then, Fury can settle his score with the most dangerous hitter in the sport, proving his claim to the lineal heavyweight title is more than self-promotion. That's a plan both Fury and boxing fans can be happy with.  

Mike Tyson is certainly enjoying his retirement.

Not only has the former boxer become an advocate for marijuana while hosting a podcast called Hot Boxin', but he also explained the extent of his marijuana use in the latest episode (h/t The Source).

"What do we smoke a month?" Tyson asked his co-host, Eben Britton. "Is it $40,000 a month? It's $40, yeah, $40,000 a month."

"We smoke 10 tons of weed at the ranch a month," Britton said.

Tyson broke ground on a 40-acre ranch earlier this year to both grow marijuana and research the effects of the drug. The new company said on its website that it aims to create "Better Cannabis" for its customers.

However, it appears Tyson is getting high on his own supply.

It's unknown how many people are joining in on these sessions at his ranch, but $40,000 per month is still a lot of money to spend on marijuana. It's also a questionable use of money considering the 53-year-old has already gone bankrupt once despite earning $300 million in his boxing career.

Still, Tyson appears to be fully immersed in his new business.