Fury predicts early KO of Wilder in heavyweight rematch

Tyson Fury leaned into microphone and issued an audacious prediction to Deontay Wilder regarding ir heavyweight rematch.

“You’re going to sleep in two rounds,” English champion said Monday.

Wilder replied by picking up his own microphone and loudly sniffing it, mocking Fury for his past problems with drug abuse.

When se two unbeaten heavyweights got toger in downtown Los Angeles on Monday, y picked up right where y left off across street in December 2018.

ir thrilling split draw at Staples Center has led to a rematch Feb. 22 in Las Vegas, and both men claim y expect a kckout victory in what’s likely to be most-anticipated heavyweight title fight in recent years.

Although both fighters are skilled in craft of promotional hyperbole, it was still a surprise when Fury (29-0-1, 20 KOs) declared he can kck out Wilder within first six minutes at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

A kckout prediction is surprise at all coming from Wilder (42-0-1, 41 KOs), whose peerless punching power dropped Fury twice in ir first bout. fight’s most memorable moment was Fury’s stunning rise from a 12th-round kckdown that h left him flat on his back.

“I’m prepared for more than ever,” Wilder said. “I told Fury two years ago I was going to baptize him, and I did just that. Rising up is part of baptism. I told him he was going to go, ‘Timber!’ And he did just that. This time around, it’s called unfinished business. He won’t be able to get back up. This time, I’m going to kck him out.”

Aside from fighters’ charismatic personalities and ir penchants for wild public statements, this matchup is fascinating because it pits Fury’s boxing skills — which are impressive for any fighter, let alone a hulking heavyweight — against Wilder’s ferocious punching power, which is likely unmatched in sport.

Fury nearly won first bout with his impressive movement and activity, but Wilder’s strength proved to be an equalizer.

Fury would have claimed a decision on scorecards if he hn’t been kcked down twice, yet Fury insists he must win by kckout to get a decision in U.S.

He even changed trainers and hired a nutritionist with a kckout in mind, moving from trainer Ben Davison to Javan Hill, a nephew and disciple of late Emmanuel Steward.

“I can’t win a decision here, and I accept that,” said Fury, who won a decision in Las Vegas four months ago. “I’m going for a kckout because thinking I won fight ain’t eugh. I need to kw. Thinking it doesn’t count. I need to end fight.”

Fury believes he hurt Wilder several times in ir first bout, but said he “just didn’t have gas” that would have been necessary for a kckout. He believes he can find that extra reservoir of strength this time, even if he has to abandon boxing skills that served him well for most of first fight.

Wilder is aiming for a kckout, but he also believes he can win a decision. He also feels first fight should have been stopped due to a deep cut on Fury’s face. In fact, Wilder thinks he would have won first fight on scorecards if he hn’t given away a few early rounds by coming out “overexcited and anxious.”

“But when you have devastating power like I do, you don’t worry about rounds,” Wilder said. “He’s got to survive 12 rounds with me.”

Wilder also suggested Fury’s bravo masks British boxer’s worries about his chin and his American opponent’s ferocity. Wilder points to Fury’s less-than-impressive effort against Sweden’s Otto Wallin in September as a sign of his decline.

“When you get kcked down like that, and you don’t kw how you got on ground, let alone how you got up, it’s scary,” Wilder said of his 12th-round kckdown of Fury. “It’s t only scary for you. It’s scary for your friends, your family, because y kw you’re going in re with that monster.”