Fury-Wilder II: Fury Is Already Winning the Preliminary Rounds

Fury-Wilder II: Fury is already winning the preliminary rounds By Norm Frauenheim- Reviews continue, days after Tyson Fury sang his way to a second-round stoppage over an unknown German in what was more of a Vegas lounge act than a fight. It was fun. It was boxing’s version of junk food. But I’m not sure what to make of it, other than to say that Fury could be a very good Elvis impersonator if his day job as a heavyweight doesn’t work out. Above all, it was an introduction, and a successful one in terms of what Fury hopes to accomplish next year. Put it this way: Fury is already winning the rematch. For all that it mattered, Fury could have been fighting Tom Schwarz or Sergeant Schultz. The whole point to the song-and- dance last Saturday at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand was the long- anticipated rematch with Deontay Wilder, projected for some time in 2020’s first quarter. Psychologically and politically, the rematch has been underway for a while. A lot still has to happen – and not happen – before an opening bell. Wilder has to beat Luis Ortiz in a rematch tentatively scheduled for September. Fury has to beat whomever he faces on either Sept. 21 or October 5. Please-please, don’t it let be Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller, who comes off a WBA-mandated suspension on Sept. 19. A positive-PED test got Miller bounced from the Anthony Joshua fight, allowing stand-in Andy Ruiz Jr. to spring an all-time upset on June 1. More on Miller later, hopefully much later. In the here-and-now, only two heavyweight fights matter: Wilder-Fury and Ruiz-Joshua, both rematches. Most of the current talk is about Wilder-Fury. The attention – and money – invested in Fury is astonishing. ESPN did a two-hour special on Fury before last Saturday fight on ESPN+. Two hours of prime time for fewer than two rounds, or fewer than six minutes of one-sided boxing. But the media and promotional investment – reported to be $100 million – gives Fury an early edge in the projected sequel, especially if it is in Vegas. Top Rank already is promoting Fury as though he is a Vegas fighter. It’s a smart and subtle move. The rematch feels like a Vegas fight and you know what they say about Vegas: The House always wins. Imagine if Fury’s had already gained a public foothold in Vegas and the first Wilder-Fury bout had been at the MGM Grand instead of Staples Center in Los Angeles. Wilder-Fury I remains controversial. It was a draw. Fury out- boxed Wilder for at least eight rounds, but Wilder scored two huge knockdowns in the final rounds, including one in the 12th that saw Fury climb off the canvas like a man climbing out of a coffin. Judges are supposed to be objective. Some more than others. But they are all human, meaning they are influenced by what they hear and see. Had it been in Vegas and those judges had witnessed a Fury they already knew in his amazing display of resilience in the 12th, the guess here is that scorecards would have been Fury in a narrow decision instead of a draw. There is every reason to think the rematch will play out in much the same way the first bout did. Fury’s reach, clever versatility and footwork are the same. Wilder’s fight-ending power is the same. It’s still close, very close. But, for now, Wilder is winning all of the preliminary rounds..

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