Fury will tame Wilder
Roach says Tyson has been underestimated
FREDDIE ROACH is confident Deontay Wilder has overlooked Tyson Fury.
The legendary trainer says the WBC heavyweight champion is underestimating the challenger in tomorrow night’s clash at Staples Center in LA – and called it a foolish move.
Roach will be in Fury’s corner after being drafted into his team this month by Fury and trainer Ben Davison.
He revealed he did not charge Fury a penny for use of his gym in the build-up to the showdown.
But Fury may have got even better value with Roach’s inside knowledge of Wilder’s camp. The trainer, who has led the career of Manny Pacquiao, revealed he has been told by spies in Wilder’s camp that he is not ready.
He said:
“What I will say, though, is that anyone who underestimates
Tyson Fury is a fool. And you know what?
I’ve had two guys in Wilder’s training camp giving me reports from there – and he’s not ready for this fight.
“Have they underestimated Fury? Big time. They don’t know what they’re in for, 100 per cent.”
Wilder has won 39 of his 40 fights inside the distance, while Fury has gone the distance eight times in his 27-fight unblemished career. That would suggest that the American is the bigger puncher of the two. But Roach dismissed that idea as he backed his new charge to win by knockout – and it could even come in the first round.
He said: “I think Fury’s under this guy’s skin. I think this guy is going to come and try to kill him and if Wilder walks into that one-two, he is dead. “This could be an early one. I really think we can knock this guy out, he’s a little bit sloppy and I think, straight down the middle, Tyson is the bigger puncher of the two.
“He even said to me, ‘Freddie, what if I go out there and knock him out in the first round?’ I said, ‘Yeah, OK, that’s possible but don’t you think there’s a better way? Maybe break him down a bit first?’”
Fury was also happy to dismiss Wilder’s credentials inside the ring despite the Bronze Bomber’s impressive knockout record. “He’s going to look like the clown he is,” said Fury. “He punches hard but he didn’t fight anyone until he’d had 30 fights.
“You can only knock out who’s in front of you but if you’re matched easily you get to 100-0. People are afraid before they get in there, like with Mike Tyson, they were just looking for a comfy place on the canvas.
“I’m not, I’m looking to nail him and drop him like a tree.
“It’s a fight, I don’t care about getting punched in the face. I’ve been hurt, I’ve pulled fights out of the bag before.” Fury’s bold claims about Wilder’s record means he has to back it up in the ring when he puts his unbeaten record on the line and bids to become a twotime world champion.
“If I can’t beat Deontay Wilder then I’m not very good, simple as that,” said Fury.
“I won’t retire but if I can’t beat Wilder, I’m not the man I think I am.
“If I win a close fight I’ll class it as a loss because it’s not enough for me.
“How are you going to be considered a great if you can’t beat a bum who throws windmills?”