Mike Tyson has revealed who he thinks will win the trilogy fight between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder, as he said the Bronze Bomber shouldn't worry about his defeat in the last contest.
The duo's first fight ended in a draw with Fury twice hauling himself up from the canvas, including memorably in the final round when he looked gone. The second fight in 2020 was a totally different affair, as Fury came forward and bullied Wilder into a seventh-round stoppage defeat.
Wilder unleashed a host of outlandish excuses - blaming everything from a heavy ring walk costume to his trainer throwing in the towel - for his defeat. But Iron Mike said Wilder had nothing to feel "sad" about as he gave his verdict on fight three.
"Deontay and Tyson are making that loot, man, making that money," said Tyson approvingly while chatting to heavyweight Andy Ruiz and former UFC champion Henry Cejudo on his Hotboxin' podcast.
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But when Ruiz, who's won and lost against Anthony Joshua, asked Mike who he thought would win July's trilogy fight Tyson gave a simple answer: that Fury has Wilder figured out and is all wrong for him.
When Ruiz suggested the contest could go either way, Tyson firmly replied: "No way.
"You know, Deontay Wilder has nothing to be sad about or nothing to complain about, he's fought great fights... I just think Tyson Fury has his number."
Clearly the former undisputed heavyweight champ Tyson, who suffered knockout defeats in his own pro career, doesn't believe Wilder should let his one pro setback define him.
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However he also can't see a way that Fury can lose to Wilder having adapted his approach so perfectly from the first fight to the second.
Wilder is training with a new coach in Malik Scott and is trying to keep his usual bombast to a minimum, remaining largely silent when confronted with Fury during a bizarre press conference to promote the fight.
The third fight didn't even seem likely to happen with Fury reportedly close to signing a deal to take on British rival Joshua. But a judge ruled that Wilder's rematch contract was still valid so we get the trilogy contest.
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The boxing world generally seems to be in agreement with Iron Mike: that Fury proved in their one-sided last contest that he simply has Wilder's number.
But with the Bronze Bomber's otherworldly power, you can never completely write him off.
All imagery: PA Images
Topics: Mike Tyson, Tyson Fury, Boxing, Deontay Wilder
