The Heavyweight Trilogy: Fury vs. Wilder

The Heavyweight Trilogy: Fury vs. Wilder

They shared a ring on three separate occasions. Thirty rounds in total. Multiple knockdowns. Controversy on the scorecards. We even had a court judgement that made the trilogy possible.

Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder took plenty out of each other. Arguably, both have never been the same. Three heavyweight fights that will stand the test of time. It might not quite be Ali/Frazier, but there were times when it came close.

It started in 2018. Fury on the comeback trail after years of excess and fighting many demons. His career looked over. Three years away. A couple of wins on the road back hardly inspired confidence. An inspiring story of redemption and more. But dreams of once again becoming the heavyweight champion of the world looked fanciful at best.

Deontay Wilder, the WBC world heavyweight  champion, was unbeaten in forty fights. A heavyweight with limited boxing skills. But he had truly frightening knockout power. Without question, one of the biggest punchers of all time. In December 2018, it didn’t look a case of too much too soon for Fury. It just looked too much.

But Fury defied all the naysayers. Even if the judges denied him. The British challenger boxed quite beautifully. Maybe from memory, but it was working. But Wilder, despite the usual struggles, again found the punches he needed. Fury was down in the 9th, but it was the final round knockdown that was headline story of the fight. Flat on his back. Seemingly unconscious. But Fury did his own WWE recovery, and by the end of the round, was back in control. The judges couldn’t split them. There was controversy over the scoring. I didn’t quite see the venom in the draw. I had Fury winning. But not by much. Not a lot happened in the early rounds. There was enough doubt to excuse the scorecards. But Fury had proved his point in Los Angeles.

They fought again in early 2020. A trip to Las Vegas. The world was on the edge of a pandemic. Fury had changed his inner circle. He promised to walk Wilder down. Few believed him. But that’s exactly what he did. It was a one-sided beatdown. Wilder was saved in the 7th by Mark Breland. An act of mercy. It was the right call to save his man for another day. But Breland didn’t have another day. He was unceremoniously sacked. Wilder blamed everyone and everything for his first career defeat. He was in complete denial.

In 2021, Fury looked as though he was finally going to fight Anthony Joshua. But Wilder went to court to get the third fight. The judgement granted Wilder his wishes.

The third fight was the best of the trilogy. A return trip to Vegas. They again traded knockdowns. One of the greatest heavyweight title fights in history. It ended in the 11th. Wilder never stopped trying. Never stopped swinging. A desperate fighter looking to salvage his career and his legacy. But Fury had proved his master. Again.

Wilder was effectively finished as a fighter. Fury took plenty from him. But Wilder also left his mark on Fury. A trilogy that will stand the test of time. History will be kind to both fighters. And their three incredible fights.