Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury’s rematch in Las Vegas was one of the biggest heavyweight fights of the last decade, and certainly the biggest in recent memory in the United States. The two undefeated fighters, Wilder at 42-0-1 and Fury at 29-0-1, were looking to avenge their draw from their first meeting, when Fury dominated early but got put down in the final round by Wilder, only to somehow manage to get back to his feet and survive to the bell.
The build to the fight was lengthy and the two did everything in their power to draw attention to their bout in Vegas, from a scuffle at their press conference to a monstrous press tour over the last few weeks. When it came time for them to enter the ring at about midnight ET, they made sure everyone knew it was going to be a show with their entrances, as Fury arrived being carried on a throne.
THE GYPSY KING ON HIS THRONE! 👑
Stream #WilderFury2 on ESPN+ ➡️ https://t.co/mqDaw58TJa pic.twitter.com/suqSwK9kaG
— ESPN (@espn) February 23, 2020
Wilder, who always wears masks to the ring, took it to a new level with his mask and outfit for the ring walk, as both fighters showed they were here to entertain from the jump.
The Bronze Bomber is seeing red before #WilderFury2
Stream #WilderFury2 on ESPN+ ▶️ https://t.co/mqDaw5quAI pic.twitter.com/NTxf4xZ9PC
— ESPN (@espn) February 23, 2020
Fury got out to a strong start, peppering Wilder with his strong jab and keeping Deontay from being able to size him up for his big right hand.
I gotta question how a dude can't keep his guard up … in the first round, already pic.twitter.com/osTWURqjsa
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) February 23, 2020
Wilder isn’t known for strong starts to fights, but he was active early, it was just better from Fury, who then took things to another level, sending the champ down in the third round with a thunderous right hand.
FURY FLOORS WILDER 😱
Stream #WilderFury2 on ESPN+ ▶️ https://t.co/mqDaw58TJa pic.twitter.com/TZZuYqEfPN
— ESPN (@espn) February 23, 2020
While he managed to make it to the end of the round and through the fourth, Wilder was on shaky legs and was struggling to find any consistent offense against the Fury pressure. In the fifth, Wilder was sent down again with a left to the head and a straight left to the body as Wilder covered up.
WILDER IS DOWN AGAIN 😳
Stream #WilderFury2 on ESPN+ ➡️ https://t.co/T5DcIJNxFd pic.twitter.com/Y5UyGDAwbc
— ESPN (@espn) February 23, 2020
He, again, survived the round, but in the corner you could see the damage that first knockdown had taken on him as he was bleeding from the ear.
Wilder's ear looking nasty pic.twitter.com/7UUgPcyjQJ
— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) February 23, 2020
In the sixth round, Fury was once again dominating the action and during a clinch licked blood off of Wilder’s neck in a disgusting moment.
https://twitter.com/Steve_OS/status/1231453401952800768
In the seventh round, Wilder’s corner had seen enough and threw in the towel as Wilder, who showed some incredible resolve to continue fighting, just never got his legs back and wasn’t showing that he was ever going to produce the spectacular moment he needed at that point to get a win.
THE GYPSY KING IS THE KING OF BOXING! 👑#WilderFury2 pic.twitter.com/3qDbApeXsH
— ESPN (@espn) February 23, 2020
As such, Fury picked up the victory by TKO to earn the WBC Heavyweight Championship and remain the undefeated lineal champ in a comprehensive performance. If there were any doubt, the power punching numbers tell the story of a staggeringly lopsided bout, as Fury landed three more power punches than Wilder threw.
Well pic.twitter.com/aNnhkEVPFZ
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) February 23, 2020
It was a truly spectacular performance as Fury left no doubt and avoided the mistake of other Wilder opponents in the past, which is letting up after early success. He maintained the pressure, threw big punches, and never let Wilder find his balance to have a chance to land that right hand that’s ended so many other fights.
After the fight, Fury celebrated by belting out “American Pie,” while Wilder said he wished his corner hadn’t stopped the fight so he could “go out on my shield” if he had to go out.
🎶Singin' this'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die🎶@Tyson_Fury serenades the crowd after his victory.Buy #WilderFury2 NOW: https://t.co/auWEj0uOn9 pic.twitter.com/ipz5Q5uhxf
— FOX Sports: PBC (@PBConFOX) February 23, 2020
“I just wish that my corner would’ve let me go out on my shield. I’m a warrior. That’s what I do.”
Deontay Wilder after losing to Tyson Fury. #WilderFury2 pic.twitter.com/5QpChJgjK8
— ESPN (@espn) February 23, 2020
If his corner hadn’t stopped it, there’s a good chance referee Kenny Bayless would have anyways, as he simply wasn’t showing much of anything and you’d find few objective observers who felt they made the wrong call.