Ahead of their rematch in Las Vegas tonight, Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury tipped the scales both heavier than their first meeting.
WBC champion Wilder weighed in 18.5 pounds heavier than the first bout in December 2018 at a career high 16st 7lbs (231 pounds). Meanwhile, Fury came in three stone more at 19st 7lbs (273 pounds), carrying an extra 16.5 pounds than the initial meeting between the pair.
Fury’s weight is only three pounds lighter than his heaviest mark of 276 pounds for his fight against Sefer Seferi in 2018.
Following a tense atmosphere all week between the pair, which involved shoving each other at the press conference the day before, Fury and Wilder were banned by the Las Vegas commission from sharing a final face-off.
THAT WAS INTENSE ?
Wilder and Fury weren't allowed near each other for the final face off but still managed to trade insults from afar…
This is the last time they'll see each other before they meet in the ring ? #WilderFury2 pic.twitter.com/46XlD2fmMF
— Boxing on BT Sport ? (@BTSportBoxing) February 22, 2020
Fury has been unsurprisingly vocal in the build-up, vowing to knock Wilder out in the second round. “The weight is not a problem, 273 pounds of pure British beef,” the 31-year-old said after weighing in. “It’s no secret I’m looking for a knockout.”
But Wilder says he hopes ‘the Gypsy King’ is true to his word and comes to slug it out rather than box on Saturday night. “I’ve always had to fight guys bigger than I am and that weight is only going to slow him down,” Wilder said.
“The extra weight on me, I’m gonna rock with it and I’m not worried about his weight. What I told him was, don’t blink.
“I really don’t know what their plans are or what he’s going to do or not going to do.
“So if you want to bring the fight, then come on, let’s make it happen, that will benefit me more than anything, him coming full at me.”
The first bell is expected between 4am and 5am GMT time, hosted at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.