Tyson Fury v Deontay Wilder II: Fury tells Wilder that he should retire
Fury v Wilder III Location: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Date: Saturday 9 October (approx. 04:00 BST Sunday, October 10 Live text updates available on BBC Sport's website.
On Saturday, Tyson Fury and Deontay wilder will meet in Las Vegas for one of the most anticipated fights of 2021.
Britain's Fury will defend the WBC title against the American. He was stopped in round seven of their first fight 20 months ago.
This was Wilder's 44th professional defeat and it prompted him to accuse Fury of cheating.
Fury said, "Deep in his soul he knows that he lost and will lose again."
"After this fight he'll be working at the fast food chain he worked at earlier in his career. He'll be retiring.
"You're in denial and you're getting knocked out. Do yourself a favor and retire. Your legacy is in pieces, all the excuses are gone, and you've been destroyed. You are ridiculed by everyone, no one believes you. You are a weak man."
Fury won the fight against his opponent in December 2018.
Wilder later blamed his energy drain on the weight of his ringwalk costume, but Fury also suggested that Fury's gloves had been tampered with.
The 35-year old has since parted with Mark Breland, his coach who lost the fight against Fury and brought in Malik Scott, a former heavyweight opponent.
"I ask the question: If I won only because I cheated then what's the point in changing everything and doing all the other work?" Fury said this in a fiery final news conference.
"I don’t care, because it’s obvious that it’s coming from an unwell individual. I was accused of everything by him: His team, his trainer and the suit. He also injured the State Athletic Commission of Nevada referee.
"If he had come out with any of these excuses, it would be plausible but not 50." He can believe whatever he wants. What it tells me is that this man is weak and I will knock spark out Saturday night.
Why is it taking so long?
Fury was scheduled to face Anthony Joshua, who lost his belts to Oleksandr Uzyk following the coronavirus pandemic. This was to be Fury's first contest against Anthony Joshua.
Wilder's team argued for a rematch clause in court. An arbitrator ruled that Fury must fight the Alabaman again.
Fury contracted coronavirus in July, which delayed the trio bout. The pair will meet again on Saturday, one year, seven and 18 months after their last entry into the ring.
"Deontay has a dream to win this match and I don’t usually act arrogant but I do believe Deontay will knock him out thistime," Wilder’s manager Shelly Finkel stated to BBC's 5 Live Boxing podcast.
"There is no rematch. This is it. Anything is up for negotiation. Fury won't want to fight Deontay after the fight. But if Fury does, and we can't get Joshua, Usyk or any other fighter, who knows? My gut tells me that we will see the end of each other."
Who were the former champions?
Steve Egan, Tyson Fury's first coach, recalls their first meeting at 14 years old.
Lennox Lewis, an ex-undisputed heavyweight champion believes Fury is the superior boxer. He is backing Fury to win if the fight goes to the end. But, if it comes down a knockout, Wilder is his choice.
He told BBC Sport that Tyson Fury "has a lot more tools than he uses."
"I believe that Deontay could go back and learn a few tricks that he can use. He'll have a great time." It's going to be a great fight all around.
Frank Bruno, a WBC heavyweight champion in 1995, is optimistic that his fellow Briton will be able to do the same.
Bruno stated, "I believe Tyson will not just beat him again. He's a better boxer than Wilder. And he'll teach him."
"Fury will weigh in at nearly five stone more than Wilder, and if he box smart and wears him down, it will make a huge difference."
Wilder's windmill punch is something to be cautious of. Wilder is a powerful puncher, but you must give him the chance to win.
"As long Tyson Fury does not get involved with him, this guy is a very dangerous and hard puncher... Don't get stupid. This guy has pure power, but not much else.
"I believe Tyson has it under control. I believe so. Tyson Fury is going to knock him out."
Will Wilder's changes be successful?
Tyson Fury has never seen Deontay Wilder like this before. Scott is his trainer.
Scott Wilder, Wilder's new trainer, has brought in someone that he "loves deeply" as well as someone who makes it a "family" team. He also defeated someone in 2014 in a knockout.
Scott said, "I am a student in boxing. Deontay ruled this division and was using one weapon, but sometimes two or more,"
"I have watched him sparring men from different walks of the life stylistically for 10 years. He's creative, but when it comes to fighting, he will only use one or two tools.
"He was content with one weapon to knock out people - I went into my tool box and made sure that we drill it repeatedly.
He is tall and I don't want him to do choreographed padwork, ducking down to his feet. My fighter should not be catching punches. I want him to parry and slip punches.
"He is more energetic, more open-minded, and this is what the best Deontay wilder people will see."
Are you interested in trying boxing? Our guide will show you how to start boxing.
What about Fury versus AJ.
Joshua, a two-time world heavyweight champion, said he wasn't too bothered by Wilder winning this bout but that he wanted Wilder to win. British fans long for Fury to face him.
Joshua's defeat to Usyk makes matters more complicated. The winner of Saturday's fight against the Ukrainian will likely want to unify the division.
Lewis, who was the last to have all the heavyweight belts by the turn of this century, believes Fury is striving to be the undisputed heavyweight champion in the world.
He said, "I believe that he will go to Usyk." "The Joshua fight will never be over, but Usyk is there. That's the ultimate goal at the moment, to get all the belts.
"Joshua is a part of the top five and top six so he can fight any one of those guys.
"But the fact they never got the fight when they were champions is a reminder that people still love that fight and want to see the match up.
