By Tim Parsons-
Tyson Fury has been deriding Deontey Wilder by claiming to be more popular than the unbeaten WBC champion.
As their WBC championship contests draws close, Fury says he has more support than Wilder, who is unknown in his own country, according to Fury.
The former one time undisputed heavyweight champion who defeated Wladimir Klitschko on points in 2015 will be fighting Wilder for the WBC belt on December 1st, just under two weeks away. The 6ft 9 inch brit who is unbeaten in 27 fights has been talking very confidently ahead of the fight, and says his 2 year lay off from the ring will not affect his performance.
Fury has been training in Los Angeles for his biggest fight to date, and believes he will have a psychological advantage over Wilder when they meet at the Staple Center which has a maximum capacity of 21,000 people.
He told BT Sport: “I’m outshining him ten to one,” he told BT Sport. “My brother Shane is here and he’s saying to people in the gyms, ‘Have you heard of Deontay Wilder?’ [and they say] ‘No, who’s that?’ and he says, ‘Do you know who that is?’ and they say, ‘Yeah that’s Tyson Fury , heavyweight champion of the world.
“I don’t know how this is happening in his own country. People in America don’t know who Wilder is but they know who Fury is and that’s crazy.
Wilder’s got to be looking at me thinking, this guy… wherever he goes he takes over.”
“The location is fantastic,” he said. “To be in America, boxing on U.S. PPV, boxing in Los Angeles – it’s a fantastic place.
“I’m happy to be a part of such a massive event. I’m sure it’s going to go down in American boxing history. Fury is looking close to the best shape of his life and has gone out of his way to state that Wilder has taken this fight because of Fury’s time out of the sport. The gypsy king is confident he will be ready enough to prove Wilder wrong and use his boxing skills to pull of the greatest come back story in boxing history.
FAVOURITE
Wilder is favourite to win their championship fight, but Fury intends to use his underdog status and mental power to achieve the most significant win of his career. Fury’s size, mobility, and unorthodox style makes him a very difficult opponent to beat, but he will have to out think Wilder all night and weaken him enough to stop the American scoring his usual knock out wins. Fury is expected to have at least a two stone advantage in weight, whilst coming in at his fittest and best condition ever.
If Fury boxes at his best ability, he may actually shock everyone by producing the ferry tale dream outcome. If Fury actually enjoys overwhelming support in the auditorium on the night, it could play a vital role in boosting his morale and bringing out the best out of him. The only thing Fury should not forget is that Wilder will be noting may be noting every show of confidence Fury makes, and psyching himself even more for the fight.
The American knows he cannot take a motivated Fury lightly, especially with Fury’s good movement and the much improved condition he will bring to the ring with his size advantage. Wilder has beaten very many heavyweights who were much heavier than him, but beating one who is both taller, bigger, in good condition, and motivated, will be a very different thing all together. If the pressure gets to Wilder on the night, he could find himself in big trouble if Fury boxes and moves as well as he can.
Photograph:Tyson Fury’s Instagram