SAVE THE DATE: WILDER-FURY II SET FOR FEB. 22
Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury put the long-lagging heavyweight division back on the map last December when they fought to a disputed split draw at Staples Center.
The undefeated fighters each spent this year successfully stepping aside and winning a pair of bouts as they paved a path to meet again on an amplified promotion. In the interim, Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz entered the heavyweight picture and created further chaos in the sport’s glamour division, with Joshua righting his catastrophic wrong from June earlier this month by avenging his lone loss to Ruiz to regain four versions (WBO, WBA, IBF, IBO) of the heavyweight title.
Another division-defining rematch is in store on Feb. 22 as Wilder (42-0-1, 41 KOS), the WBC heavyweight champion, will take on Fury (29-0-1, 20 KOS), the lineal champion, in a rematch at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. For the first time ever, a boxing match will be a joint pay-per-view on Fox and ESPN Plus.
“I’m happy and excited that the rematch is finally happening,” said Wilder. “I proved myself the first time and I’m ready to do it again. It was a very controversial fight. I promise my fans that there won’t be any controversy with this one. I’m going to finish it.”
“There’s no more ducking and diving,” added Fury. “The date has been set, and the ‘Bomb Squad’ is about to be securely detonated and the real champion crowned as the world watches on for the most anticipated fight in years. This is unfinished business for me, but come Feb. 22, this dosser will finally get what’s coming to him, and I can’t wait.”
Wilder, a 34-year-old Alabaman and 2008 Olympic bronze medalist, arguably took the harder route to the rematch via opposition, yet still scored two knockout of the year candidates while doing so against Dominic Breazeale in May and Luis Ortiz in November.
The 31-year-old British Fury, who signed a $100 million deal with Top Rank in February to further build his U.S. profile, faced unheralded fighters with Tom Schwarz in June, disposing of him in two rounds with a technical knockout. He then beat Otto Wallin by unanimous decision win.