Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder had a rivalry that jolted life back into the heavyweight division.
As the two competitors were the champions of the heavyweight division, fans were delighted when Fury and Wilder both stepped into the ring with one another.
At the peak of their powers, Wilder was considered one of the hardest punchers in boxing history. As for Fury, the Englishman was known as one of the pound-for-pound best on the planet.
When Wilder and Fury met for the first time in 2018, it is safe to say that the bout lived up to the hype. However, their rivalry even started before that.
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Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury first faced off in 2016
In January 2016, Wilder defeated Artur Szpilka with a ninth-round knockout to defend his WBC World Heavyweight title for the third time.
With a brutal knockout, Wilder was able to put Szplika down and out with a monster right hand.
In the post-fight interview of the title fight, Wilder would go face to face with Fury for the first time. Fury, who was in attendance for the fight, entered the ring following the announcement of the winner as the two clashed.
Fury grabbed the mic and began to sing, “There’s only one Tyson Fury,” before adding, “What do you have to say about that Deontay Wilder?”.
Wilder responded by saying, “We all know Fury. He’s just a phony, man. This is just for act. You know who I am… I ain’t scared of nobody. I’ll come to your backyard baby [to fight].”
The British champion responded by saying, “Anytime, anyplace, anywhere.”
Both fighters then began to trade barbs with one another, getting within touching distance of one another. The heavyweights then had to be separated as Fury was escorted out of the ring as Wilder said, “I promise, when you step in the ring, I will baptize you.”
Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder would finally meet in 2016
Almost three years after their 2016 faceoff, Wilder and Fury would finally settle their differences as the two fought in December 2018.
Meeting in the Staples Centre, Los Angeles, the pair had one of the most famous heavyweight boxing matches of the modern era.
In a fight that would see Fury remarkably get off the canvas, the bout was declared a split draw.
With no winner of the fight, it would set the path for two more bouts between the American and English rivals. However, Fury would ultimately win the series, with two knockout victories in 2020, and 2021.
The ‘Gypsy King’ did give credit to his opponent’s power, however, as Fury described Wilder’s punches as ‘dynamite’.