Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury renew their rivalry in Las Vegas tonight with the entire boxing world watching closely.
The huge heavyweight title fight, live on talkSPORT – in association with official sponsor Betfred – has captured the attention of the entire division and prompted opinions from many of the top dogs.
Here, talkSPORT.com looks at what some of heavyweight boxing’s biggest names, past and present, are predicting to happen.
Anthony Joshua: Tyson Fury Win
Joshua said: “I think Fury wins. I said it. I think the man that nearly done it the first time won’t get it wrong the second time.
“I think that he came close the first time to the point of a draw, it wasn’t like a 12-round masterclass then got battered in the 12th and that just separated it.
“It was a draw, it was that close. So I just think Tyson Fury is going to correct his wrongs and come back and win.”
Frank Bruno: Tyson Fury Win
The former world heavyweight champion told talkSPORT: “I’m favouring Tyson Fury to win because he has the boxing skill.
“When Tyson Fury fought him last time, he had been out of the ring for three years and went on the fast lane. He has come back in the slow lane, has got the rust out of his body.
“He has put on more weight because the heavier he is, the better he is. He has been doing some strength training and his body looks very, very good, his mind looks good.
“If he boxes sensibly, he boxes smart, he has got the height, the reach, the weight, the experience behind him to box his ears off all night.
“If he starts showboating, he could get caught. The aim of the game for this one is to mess him around, break up his rhythm, keep him on the back foot, jab him, move and keep him off balance.
“People underestimate Tyson Fury. He is a big lump but how many boxers can turn from orthodox to southpaw? And he has so much skill and is very, very confident.”
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Mike Tyson: Tyson Fury Win
Tyson told BT Sport: “I always root for him because he was named after me. That’s the natural thing to do, right? I’m biased towards him…
“I don’t care how hard you punch, it’s hard to beat somebody who doesn’t wanna quit…
“It’s gonna be a really, really interesting fight and both guys have something to prove.
“I just wish the best for Tyson Fury, I’m always a Tyson fan.”
David Haye: Deontay Wilder Stoppage
Haye said: “Fury boxed brilliantly first time around, that was with Ben Davison in his corner. He doesn’t have Ben in the corner this time.
“In his last fight, he got a couple of horrendous cuts over his eye. That could open up again, which would mean he’d have the same fight with one eye.
“Trying to beat Deontay Wilder with two eyes is tough enough.
“The fact that I’m hearing he’s putting on additional weight, which may slow his mobility down, his speed and reflexes down, I have to go with Deontay Wilder by stoppage.”
Lennox Lewis: Tyson Fury could knock Deontay Wilder out
Lewis told talkSPORT: “I would say he [Fury] wants to knock him out.
“Tyson Fury has the power, he just needed to develop it properly. He just needs somebody to bring it out of him.
“The guy is 6ft 9ins. He concussed Wilder in the first fight, so he has the power to affect him.
“If he is going to go after him, he better make it good. I’m thinking he’s going to muller him for a minute and then get back to the boxing.”
George Foreman: Tyson Fury win
“The world will be talking about heavyweight boxing after this match,” Foreman predicted.
“It’s going to be good for boxing. I love it.
“I pick Tyson Fury to win on points. Millions will watch it, and it’ll probably be a controversial decision.”
Evander Holyfield: Deontay Wilder win
“One thing that Deontay has, he has the punching power, but his skills are getting better,” said Holyfield, who was undisputed champion at cruiserweight in the late 1980s and at heavyweight in the early 1990s.
“He’s a little bit more patient then he used to be, and I think that because he’s able to make a little bit of an adjustment that he needs to make, I think his chance is just a lot greater because of the power that he has.”
Dillian Whyte: Depends On The Game Plan
Whyte said: “I think if Fury boxes it’s a 70/30 fight, maybe a 60/40 fight [in his favour].
“If he tries to go for the KO, he makes it a 60/40 fight for Deontay Wilder or a 70/30 fight for Deontay Wilder. If he boxes it’s the other way around.
“Saying that, Wilder is kinda chinny as well. Every time he gets tagged, he gets rocked. So Fury is a big guy and he could stop him.
“I don’t think that’s a great game plan for Tyson Fury, but I think they’re just saying that to get Wilder to try and box. In boxing a lot of things get said and not a lot of things happen. Let’s see.”
Charles Martin: Deontay Wilder By KO
Martin told Fight Hub: “Fury’s gonna outbox him, he’s gonna do his thing, but Wilder’s gonna hit him with that right hand and it’s probably gonna be lights out.
“He’s been doing it, he’s on a one-punch knockout streak, I’m leaning more to Wilder.
“Look at his track record, the second time he fights them it’s like he’s got them figured out. He’s gonna be like, ‘boom,’ and land that right hand.”
Wladimir Klitschko: Tyson Fury On Points
Fury told The National: “Either Wilder is going to knock out Fury or Fury is going to win on points.
“Personally, I respect Wilder a lot – he was in my training camp, we spent rounds in the ring. He’s a great guy and a fantastic boxer.
“As many knockouts as he has, you’ve probably no one else, in current times, any heavyweights, including me.
“I think, or I wish, that actually Fury, believe it or not, might make it.”
Oleksandr Usyk: Tyson Fury Win
Usyk told Ren TV: “I preferred Tyson Fury in the first fight.
“In the second, I will probably be more inclined towards him.
“He has much more skills than Wilder. But Wilder is such an unpredictable guy who can hit at any moment.”
Betfred is the official sponsor of Wilder vs Fury II and are offering TOP PRICE on Fury to win.
Betfred boss Fred Done said: “It’s one of the most anticipated fights in years and in terms of betting we can’t split them. It looks so close between the two fighters.
“The last fight was a cracker – let’s hope the rematch is even better.”
Betfred’s Mark Pearson added: “Although it’s a 50/50 fight all the money is for Tyson Fury at the moment. Some of it is patriotic dough but most punters think Tyson Fury will dance for 12 rounds and take Deontay Wilder all the way and win on points. Whatever happens it looks like we are in for a superb night.”
Betfred not only have a wide range of special markets and offers for the rematch, they are also covering the cost of the fight for a selected number of customers. Head here for more information.
