Wilder-Fury: The Heavyweight Division is Back

By Miguel Maravilla
Photos: Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME

The spotlight will be on the heavyweight division once again as WBC heavyweight champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (40-0, 39 KOs) of Tuscaloosa, Alabama and lineal champion England’s Tyson “Gypsy King” Fury (27-0, 19 KOs) clash on December 1st at the Staples Center in Los Angeles live on Showtime PPV.

“This is going to be a great fight. I will make sure you all get your money’s worth,” Deontay Wilder told Fightnews.com®. “I’m fighting a tough fighter, Tyson is tough so when I knock him out. I will be knocking out a tough fighter.”

“I’m ready to fight and I can’t wait. I think Deontay is a great guy and an amazing person. He’s evolved over the years and become a better fighter,” Tyson Fury told Fightnews.com®. “I’m welcoming Wilder to big-time boxing!”

The last time the heavyweight title was at stake in the City of Angels was May 10 of 2014. That night WBC heavyweight champion Bermane Stiverne stopped local brawler and fan favorite Chris Arreola in a rematch at the Galen Center on the campus of USC in Los Angeles.

“It’s good to be fighting here in L.A. I fought here a few years ago and I’m ready to give another good fight for the fans here,” Wilder said. “It’s amazing to be here.”

“What a place to be fighting in. This is the home of the stars and I am a star. I should live here,” Fury stated,

Prior to that heavyweight title fight, long-reigning WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko scored a dominating TKO over then-undefeated Chris Arreola at the Staples Center.

The heavyweight division also had one of it’s most defining moments of the decade in L.A. In 2003, Vitali Klitschko went toe to toe with then long-reigning lineal heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis in what was a memorable fight, Lewis would go on to win by TKO as Klitschko still willing to go out on his shield was not allowed to continue. L.A. was treated to another heavyweight fight the following year as Vitali Klitschko returned to Staples Center stopping Corrie Sanders in the eighth in what was also a slugfest.

“That was one good fight but the heavyweight division is alive again,” Wilder said.

“That fight between Klitschko and Lennox Lewis was here it was a hell of a fight and to be fighting in this very same arena. I promise to deliver the same action,” Fury said. “Klitschko killed the heavyweight division.”

This fight will also mark the first heavyweight title fight between two undefeated heavyweights since Evander Holyfield and Riddick Bowe back in 1992. After years of being overshadowed by the much more exciting lower divisions. The heavyweight division went in a downward spiral in the U.S. Gone were the days of Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield,and Riddick Bowe. With Lennox Lewis and the Klitschko brothers dominating the division in their prime there was a lack of interest from fans here stateside as many began to take more interest in UFC/MMA.

“It’s amazing it feels wonderful. The heavyweight division was dead in America and we are here to make this fight,” Wilder commented.

“The U.S should be loving Deontay Wilder. He is an exciting fighter and knocks people out. When was the last time there was a fighter like him? Mike Tyson, the guy I’m named after. Outside of Alabama, no one knows who Wilder is,” Fury said. “I’m here to bring it back the heavyweight division to life in America. We need to make America great again.”

Wilder and Fury wrapped up their three-city press conference tour making stops in London, New York, and Los Angeles on Wednesday, and after seeing each other three days in a row things got heated between the two.

“Tyson Fury needs to stop. There are certain things you say to psyche yourself and that is what he’s doing. I really, really want to hurt him,” Wilder stated. “He is a nervous person at this point and when its time to fight he will be a nervous wreck.”

“He knows he can’t beat me,” Fury proclaimed.

Now Wilder and Fury will begin their training camp for their showdown. The champ Wilder is coming off an exciting TKO over previously undefeated Luis Ortiz of Cuba, which was considered the most avoided in the division. This will be Wilder’s 8th defense of his WBC title he won over Bermane Stiverne back in 2015, the first and only time he went the distance.

“I have a tremendous amount of confidence since that fight with Ortiz. He really gave me the confidence I needed on top of what I have,” Wilder said.

Fury returned to the ring early this year in June after a three-year hiatus and battle with substance abuse since winning the WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles over Wladamir Klitschko back in November of 2015. In his return, Fury won a technical decision over Sefer Seferi and in his last fight won a unanimous decision over Francesco Pianeta.

“It feels good to be back. I am fighting for those people that are also battling the same problems I had. I am representing them,” Fury said.

This will definitely be a show as the 6’7 Wilder and 6’9 Fury collide and once again bring back the heavyweight division to what it once was. All action, exciting and fun.

“He loves me and I love him. I have to whoop him because I love him,” Wilder said. “I will give him a whooping.”

“When I win this fight, it will prove I am the best heavyweight. I will beat Wilder and cement my legacy,” Fury concluded.

Follow Miguel on Twitter @MigMaravilla