Top Rank’s CEO Bob Arum, who co-promotes WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, has compared upcoming opponent Deontay Wilder to a “loaded gun.” (photo by Ryan Hafey)
Fury will defend his title against Wilder in a trilogy fight on October 9th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
When they met back in February 2020, Fury dropped Wilder twice and stopped him in the seventh round to capture the WBC world title.
The goal for Fury is to face unified champion Anthony Joshua in 2022.
But, Fury must first overcome Wilder. And Joshua would have to get through his mandatory defense against Oleksandr Usyk on September 25.
Arum feels confident that his champion will hold up his end of the deal.
At the same time, the veteran promoter is obviously concerned with Wilder’s ability to score a knockout with a single punch.
In the first encounter, in December 2018, Fury was down twice and came close to being knocked out in the twelfth round.
“Fury is the better fighter, he proved that in the first fight which was called a draw. He certainly proved it in the second fight. However, if you’re in with someone like Wilder? You’re in with someone who has a loaded gun. If he fires that gun and connects, watch out,” Arum told Sky Sports.
“I don’t think there is any heavyweight in boxing who has the one-punch firepower that Wilder has. But who is the better fighter? Clearly Tyson. Who is more skillful? Clearly Tyson. Who has the harder punch? Clearly Wilder. If he connects, it is lights out. That makes it interesting.”
Wilder’s co-manager, Shelly Finkel, is equally confident that his boxer will get revenge – and he expects him to do it by knockout.
“I definitely believe that Deontay is going to win his title back by knocking out Tyson Fury,” Finkel said.