‘Deontay Wilder is wild and terrible technically’ – Tony Bellew tells talkSPORT how Tyson Fury can win world title fight
The WBC heavyweight title will be on the line when Fury takes on the 'Bronze Bomber' at the Staples Center in Los Angeles
Tony Bellew believes Tyson Fury is ‘levels above’ Deontay Wilder, branding the American 'absolutely terrible technically'.
However, the former cruiserweight world champion is warning Wilder has the power to end the fight at any time and believes Fury's route to victory is by frustrating the American with 'negative' tactics.
He told Georgie Bingham and Tony Cascarino on the Weekend Sports Breakfast: “I think he goes in there guys and he looks to frustrate Deontay Wilder and he looks to mess him around and be negative for the first four or five rounds.
“Just frustrate the life out of him! I think that’s the way he has to go about it; I think he can do that, if there’s any heavyweight in the world who can frustrate someone it’s Tyson Fury.
“So tonight, he has to go in there and just take away what Deontay Wilder brings to the ring and that is explosive power.
“And the only way he can do that is by being negative, taking away from Deontay Wilder and not being in his space and just being negative for a few rounds.”
What makes the clash so intriguing is fans and pundits remain unsure how much ring rust will affect Tyson Fury.
The 30-year-old took a two-and-a-half year hiatus from the game to focus on dealing with his mental health and substance issues. In that time, Wilder has remained active and continued to showcase his concussive power.
Given his 6”9 frame, casual fans would be forgiven for thinking Fury simply bullies opponents. But he possesses incredible footwork, hand speed and the ability to switch between an orthodox stance and a southpaw stance with consummate ease.
Wilder on the other hand has blistering speed and brutal power, but lacks technical nous. An enticing clash between a puncher and a boxer surely awaits.
For Bellew, the chasm between the two is immeasurable, as he criticised the Bronze Bomber.
“He’s wild, technically – he’s absolutely terrible,” he continued.
“And Tyson Fury is levels ahead of Deontay Wilder, technically!
“But, it’s the same story; it only takes one punch in boxing and Deontay Wilder does have that punch.”
Most Popular Boxing News
While Fury will have his usual height and reach advantage over the American, the weight difference between the two is astonishing.
At the ceremonial weigh-ins on Friday, the 33-year-old hit the scales at just 15st 2lbs 8oz (212.5lbs), three stone lighter than the ‘Gypsy King’ at 18st 4lbs 8oz (256.5lbs).
The Manchester-born brawler is expected to use that weight to effectively drain his opponents gas tank – something Bellew admitted he could not see happening.
He said: “He came in light against Luis Ortiz and Luis Ortiz had a huge weight advantage also, so don’t be shocked at that – it’s just what he is.
“He’s not a small heavyweight by any means, but he is a lightly-built heavyweight shall we say. He’s someone who doesn’t have a lot of muscle mass, but his strength is explosive power.
“I mean the speed of how the punch gets from one part to another and that’s Deontay Wilder’s strength, it always has been. His awkwardness is also a big strength of his.
“But don’t read too much into the weight. In my opinion, he’s the biggest puncher in the heavyweight division with one punch.”
The American boasts a record of 40-0, with 39 coming by way of stoppage. Every man he has ever shared a ring with has been knocked out.
However, until he beat Ortiz last year, his record was filled with journeymen and opponents who were basically set up to fall.
Fury, on the other hand, will always be remembered as the man who broke Wladimir Klitschko’s stranglehold on the heavyweight division by beating the Ukrainian on points in 2015.
And while a similarly elusive and technically-sound performance would surely secure him the win, delivering such a performance against an opponent as reckless as Wilder may not be the best strategy.
With trainer Freddie Roach already saying he believes Fury will win by knockout, former cruiserweight world champion Bellew admitted a stoppage victory is not out of the realms of possibility.
“Deontay Wilder is going to be bringing pressure," he added.
“He’s going to swing all night long, and that alone will look like he is winning a fight. Even if he is missing by miles, he is bringing the pressure and will be doing the work rate.
Latest Tyson Fury News
“He’s not going to sneak a decision here in an absolutely terrible fight because Deontay Wilder will throw punches – he will swing for the lights, literally.
“For me, Tyson Fury has just got to nail him as he comes in. Although I am not tipping a knockout win, you can possibly see it because Deontay Wilder may miss that much, he may end up exhausted and could end up getting stopped through pure exhaustion.”