GettyAs the match up between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury draws closer, the two fighters should be doing all they can to make themselves look as intimidating as possible to their opponent.
Wilder and Fury will fight against each other for the WBC heavyweight world title on December 1, 2018, in Los Angeles.
Defending WBC titleholder Wilder is currently the favourite to win, on account of Fury having only recently returned to the sport following a drugs ban.
Fans have long wanted to see ‘The Bronze Bomber’ Wilder face WBA (Unified), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. However, their representatives have previously been unable to agree terms.
Agreements have been made though, and the fight is going ahead.
However, a recent video of Wilder training has given fans the willies, as he appears sluggish while struggling at times to land a punch on the pads.
Viewers of the footage were concerned for the heavyweight champion, with Fury being the favourite in the run up to their fight.
Captioning the video, one person wrote:
How will Deontay Wilder land one of his trademark windmills on Tyson Fury when he struggles to even hit the pads!!??
Check it out:
How will Deontay Wilder land one of his trademark windmills on Tyson Fury when he struggles to even hit the pads!!?? #WilderFury #AndTheNew 🇺🇸🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/6C1NcF8Abv
— EditinKing Boxing 🥊 (@EditinKing) November 7, 2018
In response one person surmised:
He is awful. He has to think about moving his feet and when he thinks about it he can’t think about throwing shots. And when he throws shots he can’t move his feet
He is awful. He has to think about moving his feet and when he thinks about it he can't think about throwing shots. And when he throws shots he can't move his feet 😂😂
— Damien Griffiths (@AccipiterGriff) November 7, 2018
Nonetheless, Wilder’s unbeaten record speaks for itself, successfully defending his World Boxing Council title eight times. If he does it again, he’ll have an unbeaten 41-bout winning streak.
In the run up to the fight, former champions are siding with Fury to upset Wilder’s undefeated streak.
Evander Holyfield said:
I think with Deontay’s power, he might be able to end it early, but if Tyson can frustrate him and it goes the distance, then it could go his way.
Tyson’s always been the bigger fighter. In fighting Deontay it’s the same case. If things get difficult, he’s (Fury’s) got more experience and a lot of tricks.
GettyWhile Lennox Lewis said:
If it goes the distance then it belongs to Tyson Fury… If it’s a short fight it will belong to Deontay Wilder.
Even Mike Tyson had to suggest Fury could take it away from Wilder.
He said:
Although Wilder’s punch is strong, nothing can compare to the mental strength Fury has shown both in and out of the ring.
GettyOn the other hand, if anyone was in any doubt over Wilder’s punching ability, just a few weeks ago he displayed what makes him such a fearsome fighter as he punched a mascot – not knowing there was a person inside the suit.
Unfortunately, he broke the poor guy’s jaw through the suit, which is pretty impressive if you ask me. Then again I’d always rather watch people fighting mascots than an actual boxing match. Don’t ask me why.
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Charlie Cocksedge is a journalist and sub-editor at UNILAD. He graduated from the University of Manchester with an MA in Creative Writing, where he learnt how to write in the third person, before getting his NCTJ. His work has also appeared in such places as The Guardian, PN Review and the bin.