IF FURY’S STILL STANDING AT THE END, HE WINS

MENTALITY

TYSON FURY got a draw last time with Ben Davison as his trainer and was unlucky not to win. I’m not knocking Ben but Fury’s new man Javan ‘SugarHill’ Steward (right) has more experience. When you’re in a hard fight and begin to doubt yourself, a good corner man makes the difference; a man who can switch you tactically and make you believe 1,000 per cent you can win. SugarHill Steward’s extra wisdom makes Fury stronger. Like Brendan Ingle with Naseem Hamed, or Sir Alex Ferguson with David Beckham, he has the knowledge to deliver the right words at the right time. Deontay Wilder has tried to play mind games over the bad cut that Fury suffered in his last fight but that should stay intact after his surgery.

TACTICS

DEONTAY WILDER will change his gameplan. He left it too late last time and will step up the pace early. He won’t disrespect Fury as he’s facing a wily opponent, a man who often plays the fool to catch the wise, as he did with Wladimir Klitschko (right). Fury saying he is going for a round-two KO is pure kidology. He wants Wilder to be cautious, wary he will throw a big early punch. If Wilder backs off, waiting for that punch to come, that allows Fury to dictate the fight. Ego plays a part for Wilder. Fury will goad him with showboating to spark a reaction and hope he swings wildly.

TECHNIQUE

WILDER is the most devastating puncher in heavyweight history but I don’t think he has a lot more in his repertoire than a big punch. He has improved as a boxer but he was losing against Luis Ortiz (right) and took a big gamble on finding that late KO shot. He is unorthodox with the angles he hits from and that unpredictability makes him so dangerous. Fury is studious about the art of boxing, he can switch styles, has the better movement and great hand speed. It’s the puncher versus the boxer.

FITNESS

WILDER is always in condition and has the heart of a lion but Fury came into the first fight off the back of losing 11st, still went the distance and came back from a late knockdown. He used his feet well and worked hard at turning Wilder. This time he’ll be more fight-fit. He won’t want to lose too much weight as he can use that to lean on Wilder. Fury’s uncle told me this week how good he is on the inside — roughing up his opponent, doing the dirty stuff — and if he can wrap up Wilder that will help tire him out and mess up his timing.

VERDICT

If Fury (right) is still standing at the end of the fight he’ll be the winner on points. But he WILL get hit by Wilder and the level of that contact will determine how the fight unfolds. NELSON WAS TALKING TO SIMON JONES