Deontay Wilder v Tyson Fury: When is it, how can I watch it, latest odds, fighter records & predictions
Deontay Wilder defends his WBC title belt against Tyson Fury in a heavyweight clash which could end up being the fight of the year.
Fury (27-0, 19 KOs) has made a low-key return to the ring in 2018 following his suspension with two extremely easy wins, but his comeback steps up to world level when he takes on knockout specialist Bronze Bomber (40-0, 39 KOs) at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles on Saturday night (early hours of Sunday morning, UK time. Approx 5am).
The unbeaten Gipsy King is bidding to claim for his first titles since memorably dethroning Wladimir Klitschko for the IBF, WBA, WBO & IBO belts and having dramatically shifted the weight which had ballooned during the ban enforced in 2016 for "anti-doping and medical issues", Fury believes he's in the shape of his life to upset the odds.
Wilder made headlines in October when breaking a mascot's jaw on live television while the pair have exchanged no end of words on social media and during their hyped up promotional tour earlier this winter.
The American, who also wants to fight Anthony Joshua if he's successful on Saturday night, has a formidable knockout record and although that helps explain why he's rated the odds-on favourite, the quality of his opposition has often been questioned.
Here, we have everything you need to know including how to watch the fight, the tale of the tape, the latest odds, news from both fighters, predictions, best bets, records and undercard details.
Tale of the tape
When and where is the fight?
- Fight night: Saturday December 1, Staples Center, Los Angeles
- Title: WBC heavyweight title
- TV Channel: BT Sport Box Office (£19.95, scroll down for more booking details)
- TV Start time: Main event approx 5am GMT (Sunday)
- Radio coverage: BBC Radio 5 Live
- Weigh-in: Friday, November 30, 2000 GMT
- Sky Bet odds: Wilder 4/6, Fury 6/4, Draw 20/1 (Click to bet)
Wilder v Fury: How can I watch it?
BT Sport Box Office HD, which is available on BT TV, Sky and Virgin.
- On Sky TV: You can watch the action through your box via channel 490. For more details on how to buy, click here.
- On BT TV: You can buy and watch the event via channel 494.
- On Virgin Media: Buy from the On Demand section – select from Live Events.
US viewers will be able to watch the fight on Showtime's pay-per-view channel, while BT Sport also plan to stream it online.
Wilder v Fury betting odds: Who is the bookies' favourite?
- 8/1 (from 5/1) Tyson Fury to win by TKO/KO
- 9/2 (from 5/2) Deontay Wilder to win by TKO/KO in rounds 1-6
Sky Bet make Deontay Wilder their 8/13 favourite, with Tyson Fury 6/4 and the draw 20/1. Wilder is 11/10 to win by knockout or technical knockout, with Fury 5/1 in the same market. The latter is 9/4 to win by decision or technical decision with Wilder 9/2.
Sky Bet have plenty of markets and RequestABet specials to get involved with (click here for the full list) so here are a quick selection for fans of both rivals to check out...
Selections of specials
- Fury to be knocked down and win - 5/1
- Wilder to be knocked down and win - 9/1
- Both fighters to be knocked down - 6/1
- Both fighters to be knocked down & Fury win - 16/1
- Both fighters to be knocked down & Wilder win - 20/1
- Fury to be knocked down and win on points - 18/1
- Wilder to be knocked down in rounds 5-7 and Fury to win in rounds 8-10 - 50/1
Fight to go the distance
- Yes: 5/4
- No: 8/13
Odds correct at 26/11/2018
Click here for all the odds.
Wilder v Fury: Predictions
Chris Oliver, Sporting Life's Boxing tipster: "It is almost three years to the day since Fury famously dethroned Wladimir Klitschko in his own back yard with a brilliant display to breathe life back into the heavyweight division, and there is little doubt in my mind that if the same version of the 'Gypsy King' turns up at the Staples Centre on Saturday night then he will reclaim his crown. However, his problems have been well documented and the question of what Fury has left is what makes it so interesting.
"Wilder is often billed as a crude gunslinger but he is much more skilled than that. He has a good jab which acts as the perfect rangefinder for the back hand, and tends to only become wild when he has his man hurt. If you take that jab away from him then he can struggle to get the big right off, as we saw against Ortiz, and Fury pulled off the upset against Klitschko by doing just that – nullifying the jab of the favourite.
"There is little juice in the 11/10 about a Wilder stoppage, whereas the American in rounds 7-12 makes some appeal at 7/2, as it is easy to see him catching up with a slowing Fury later on. However, the latter is wily and tricky enough to survive even when there is little left in the tank and the value could be the 6/1 on offer about a victory on the cards for the home fighter."
CLICK HERE TO READ OUR FULL BETTING PREVIEW FROM CHRIS OLIVER
Lennox Lewis (via Daily Telegraph): "It will be one of the great comebacks if Fury wins. I see him more of the boxer. He can frustrate you, especially when you can’t hit him. Deontay hasn’t been against a guy that can move as well as he can. And they’re both big men. If anyone can catch Fury, it might be Deontay, with his long arms. If it’s a distance fight, it’s Tyson Fury. If it’s a short fight, it’s definitely Deontay, because of his power.
"I think Fury can employ the same tactics as against Klitschko. It’s always frustrating fighting a guy who is taking the mickey out of you. And he’s that type of boxer, treating it like a game. Deontay doesn’t have that much experience, they’re both in that learning curve."
John McDermott: "The only thing against him is he'd had a long lay-off (of almost three years), and he's not boxed anywhere near the class he needs to now. If he'd had another two fights, a bit of a step-up in class - but I still think he's going to win on points. Fury's not a renowned knockout specialist like (Anthony) Joshua or Wilder, but his boxing skills are too good for both of them.
"If anybody can beat both of them it's Fury. Not because of his punching power - because he's very quick, he's awkward, he's tall. He knows how to use his height."
David Haye for Betfair: "This is the most excited I have been about a fight since Anthony Joshua versus Wladimir Klitschko in 2017, and I believe it's the most important one since that Wembley showdown.
"I am expecting something on a similar scale as well in LA on Saturday, with two undefeated fighters going head-to-head - it's guaranteed fireworks.
"Tyson Fury is the outsider here, but he has a history of upsetting the applecart. I'm hearing all the same things now - in fact, I'm saying them myself - that Fury doesn't have the firepower to deal with Deontay Wilder, but Tyson can find a way.
"But I am leaning pretty heavily towards Wilder, taking into account how the two of them have lived their lives over the past few years.
"My bet would be Wilder by stoppage. Fury has never faced an athlete like him before. The American reminds me of an NBA player in the way he can just keep going.
"Fury comes from a fighting family and we know he has plenty of heart. He got up off the floor against Steve Cunningham, and he will probably have to do it again here.
"Tyson will be aiming for a points win, but at no point will he be able to get excited even if plenty of rounds have passed. It only takes one Wilder punch to knock him out."
Scroll down for more including latest news and fighter records
How might this fight be decided?
We've weighed up four key factors - technique, power, experience and preparation - which could well decide the outcome of the bout. Click here to read our verdict!
Wilder v Fury: Latest news
Tyson Fury weighed in at three stone heavier than Deontay Wilder for their WBC world heavyweight title clash in Los Angeles on Saturday. Click here to read more.
Frank Warren believes Tyson Fury only needs to be at 80 per cent of his best to defeat Deontay Wilder. Click here to read more.
Freddie Roach has helped Tyson Fury and his trainer Ben Davison develop their game plan for Saturday's WBC heavyweight title fight with Deontay Wilder. Click here to read more.
Tyson Fury revisited his greatest victory when he came face-to-face with Deontay Wilder at the final press conference for Saturday's WBC heavyweight title fight. Click here to read more.
We revisit three fights that established each of the undefeated fighters among the world's leading heavyweights. Click here to read more.
Deontay Wilder believes that by beating Luis Ortiz he has already had the best possible preparation for Tyson Fury. Click here to read more.
Tyson Fury believes it would be "a sin" for the world's leading heavyweights not to fight each other to establish the undisputed champion. Click here to read more.
Deontay Wilder believes Tyson Fury is "nervous" ahead of their world title showdown. Click here to read more.
Tyson Fury says there's only one way to find out who is the best heavyweight in the world - by fighting. Click here to read more.
Tyson Fury joked he is "wrestling with bears at 6am every day" as he continues his preparations for his blockbuster fight with Deontay Wilder. Click here to read more.
Tyson Fury has opened up about his battle with depression and said he "wanted to die so bad" while suffering with the mental illness. Click here to read more.
Deontay Wilder has issued a chilling warning to Tyson Fury ahead of the world heavyweight title clash. Click here to read more.
Tyson Fury is convinced he'll beat Deontay Wilder, claiming that it is "written in the stars" as he aims to achieve "one of the greatest comebacks in boxing history, similar to George Foreman, Muhammad Ali and the other great comeback fighters." Click here to read more.
Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder had to be separated once more as the third and final promotional press conference in Los Angeles again got heated. The pair were held back by security after pushing each other and the conference had to be cut short for the second time in three days. Click here to read more.
Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder were separated in the opening press conference to promote their WBC heavyweight title fight at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles on December 1. Click here to read more.
Wilder v Fury: Fighter records
Deontay Wilder's fight record: 40-0-0 KOs: 39
Wilder won bronze at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing before turning pro later that year, aged just 23. Since then he's enjoyed a spectacular knockout-heavy rise through the ranks and won the WBC title in 2015 by defeating Bermane Stiverne on points.
That performance - along with his recent 10th-round stoppage of Luis Ortiz in which he had the Cuban down three times despite being in trouble midway through the fight - were his two standouts while he also ended Audley Harrison's career in 2013 with a brutal victory inside the opening round.
Tyson Fury's fight record: 27-0-0 KOs: 19
Fury's record may not have as many wins or indeed knockouts on it but his victories over Kevin Johnson, Steve Cunningham, Dereck Chisora and, of course, Wladimir Klitschko were arguably more impressive. Especially the latter, in which he he won the IBF, IBO, WBA and WBO titles.
CLICK HERE TO LOOK BACK ON BOTH FIGHTER'S MOST MEMORABLE VICTORIES
Wilder v Fury: Undercard fights
The PPV undercard will feature unbeaten unified super welterweight world champion Jarrett Hurd returning to take on Jason Welborn, Cuban heavyweight slugger Luis Ortiz facing-off against Travis Kauffman and rising undefeated heavyweight Joe Joyce battling Joe Hanks.