TYSON FURY and Deontay Wilder have weighed in ahead of their blockbuster showdown tonight.
Both fighters have tipped the scales HEAVIER than ever before, with Fury at 277lbs and Wilder at 238lbs.
The Gypsy King knocked the Bronze Bomber out in seven rounds last year to claim the WBC heavyweight title, but the American is set on revenge.
Meanwhile Fury has been posting messages of support from some of the all-time greats in sport and music, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Drake.
You can catch coverage of the fight live on BT Sport Box Office.
BETTING SPECIAL: GET 30/1 ON FURY OR 50/1 ON WILDER FOR HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING CLASH
Follow ALL of the latest news and updates below…
ZLATAN’S BACKING
Tyson Fury’s line-up of famous fans continues with the release of a new video on his social media channels.
The Gypsy King has received the backing of Zlatan Ibrahimovic ahead of his trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder.
The iconic AC Milan striker knows a thing or two about combat himself – he’s famous for practicing his martial arts on team-mates around the training ground.
He adds his name to likes of rapper Drake and WWE legend The Undertaker in wishing Fury luck ahead of tonight’s bout in Vegas.
FACT SHEET
Fight fans are holding their breath as they await Fury vs Wilder III in Las Vegas later today.
The pair are set to meet each other at around 4am British time for their highly anticipated trilogy bout.
With the weigh-ins now done and the trash talk all but over, here’s everything you need to know ahead of the blockbuster heavyweight match-up.
TYSON BACKS TYSON
Mike Tyson has revealed who he thinks will win tonight’s trilogy fight between his namesake and Deontay Wilder.
After beating the referee’s count in the first fight and knocking out Wilder in the second, Iron Mike thinks that Tyson has the American’s number.
Mike Tyson likes what he sees from his namesake Tyson Fury The Gypsy King takes on Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas tonight Speaking on his Hotboxin podcast with Andy Ruiz Jr. and Henry Cejudo, he gave his prediction: “No way, you know, Deontay Wilder have nothing to be sad about… I just think Tyson Fury has his number.”
VOCAL CHORDS
Fury’s known for loving a good singalong with the travelling fans and media at his fights.
Whether that’s belting out American Pie after demolishing Wilder in their previous fight, or serenading his wife with Aerosmith tunes – the Gypsy King isn’t afraid of a bit of karaoke.
Fury sang American Pie after defeating Wilder in their previous meetingCredit: Getty So what’s going to be on the playlist in the event of a Fury win against Wilder in their third fight tonight?
Given his latest video message comes from A-List pal Drake, would we bet against Fury breaking out into a little rap in the ring?
Drake seems to have given him permission to sing anything he wants with his latest message.
He said: “Go out there, get the work done and afterwards f***ing sing your heart out or say whatever the f*** you want to say.”
FAMOUS FRIENDS
Fresh off releasing a video from The Undertaker on his social media channels, Tyson Fury has put out a clip from yet another famous face.
The Gypsy King has released a shout out from none other than Drake ahead of his trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder.
The rap megastar dropped in to wish his pal luck and praise him as both the ‘scariest and nicest’ man in boxing.
Drake said: “This is a video for the most psycho man I know. He’s mad in his head but he has the purest heart, the nicest guy, the Gypsy King, the scariest man in boxing.
“I’m wishing you the best of luck this weekend brother. I want you to go out there and continue the legacy.
“Do what you do, we all love you because you’re relentlessly yourself.”
WEIGHT GAIN
As we gear up for fight night, let’s recap how things stand following yesterday’s weigh-ins.
Reigning champ Fury tipped the scales at the heaviest in his career, coming in at 19st 11lbs at Vegas’s MGM Grand.
Fury weighed in the heaviest in his career for tonight’s trilogy boutCredit: The Mega Agency Challenger Wilder has taken a similar approach, packing on the weight to come in at his own career heaviest of 17st.
After the weigh-in the pair then clashed backstage in one some of boxings most hallowed halls.
They’ll get into the ring together tonight (or early tomorrow morning, to be exact) at the huge T-Mobile Arena just across town.
Ring-walks are expected around 3am – once the anthems are done we’re expecting it to hit 3.30am before the first punch is thrown.
TALE OF THE TAPE
If you needed reminding, here’s how Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder stack up ahead of their trilogy fight early tomorrow morning.
How Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder stack up ahead of the trilogy fight ‘SMASHING HIS FACE IN’
Things certainly got heated during yesterday’s weigh-ins, with Fury – who donned a hat in homage to The Undertaker – vowing to smash Deontay Wilder’s face in.
TRILOGY FIGHT BUILD-UP LATEST
Tyson Fury can craft and crush his way into history and Deontay Wilder into retirement later tonight in Las Vegas.
Britain’s heavyweight champ Fury is a warm tip to repeat his second-bout win – albeit on points this time – in the long-awaited trilogy fight.
But the Gypsy King has had major problems in his build-up after the date was put back due to the 33-year-old catching Covid.
Dynamite puncher Wilder’s career could be over if he loses again.
But British boxing legends Ricky Hatton and David Haye have both fired warnings to Fury.
Hatton urged his pal to ensure the contest doesn’t go “tits up” – after fellow Brit Anthony Joshua lost his WBA, IBF and WBO crowns to Oleksandr Usyk a fortnight ago
The former two-weight world king said: “Tyson is the favourite but it is not a foregone conclusion. It will be tricky.
“We all want Tyson to win but – like we saw with the AJ fight – these are all sticky wickets and it can all go tits up with one heavyweight punch.”
And Haye said: of Fury’s preparations: “If his camp has been that short then it is shocking but Tyson has proved time and time again that he raises his game only when he really has to.
“When he beat Deontay Wilder (February 2020) and Vladimir Klitschko (2015) he had his back against the wall and people ruling him out and his performances went through the roof.
“In other fights – like the Otto Wallin one – he has struggled his way through and not looked as good.
“Maybe Tyson just has Deontay Wilder’s number now and he has just got him in his pocket, it can happen. We will find out again on Saturday.”
CONTINUED
Twig-legged Wilder, 35, was a career heaviest 16st 7lbs for the first defeat of his once-brilliant KO artist career.
That night was a disaster but instead of stripping back the bulk he piled even more on.
Wilder said “I wanted to look sexy and feel sexy, he will not be able to put all his weight on me now.
“The weight came off naturally and we had a loving, joyous camp.”
The pair clashed backstage in the MGM arena, swapping insults in the bowels of the building.
Both men shouted “f*** your mumma” before Fury’s younger brother Shane got into a slanging match with a member of the Bomb Squad.
Big Shane was heard yelling: “You piece of s***, you are getting knocked spark out. F*** you”
And when a member of Team Wilder yelled back an insult relating to Shane’s curves, he barked: “I’ll tell you what a fat boy could do to you, rip you to pieces you p***y!”
Fury’s unfamiliar black fedora hat also made a bit more sense when a social media message from wrestling legend The Undertaker was posted.
The American giant asked Fury to floor his compatriot before standing over him and uttering his famous catchphrase: “Rest in peace”.
FROM SUNSPORT’S BOXING REPORTER, WALLY DOWNES JR
Bloodthirsty Tyson Fury plans to feast on Deontay Wilder’s plasma again tonight after weighing in at 19st 11lbs – the heaviest of his career.
England’s 33-year-old WBC heavyweight champ weighed in at a monstrous 19st 7lbs for last clash he totally dominated and has packed on about 4lbs to reach 277lbs for the trilogy bout.
Wilder did the same by packing on more muscle to hit his own career heaviest of 17st.
When the Gypsy King shook up the sport by axing his old defensive skills and blasting Wilder out in seven February 2020 rounds, he had bulked up and looked sensational
And he once again looks set to slam one foot on the Las Vegas gas and the other on the American’s throat.
Remembering the iconic moment he licked the blood that was oozing from Wilder’s mouth and ear last time out, he roared: “I told him before the fight I wanted to taste his blood and I did.
“It has only made me thirsty for more.
“My weight means total obliteration and annihilation, 277lbs to put him in the royal infirmary.”
MORE FURY
“I feel absolutely amazing, I’ve been training at this weight for two years.
“I’m on fire, I”m going to knock the dosser out, he’s in trouble tomorrow night.
“I think he’ll be slow, he can’t carry his weight, he’s actually a small man.
“They’re not going to face me, I’m a real man, he’s a coward.
“I’d fight his army on my own.”
WEIGHT RECAP
So then, both men come in heavier than the second fight.
Wilder is 238lbs, while Fury is 277lbs.
Tomorrow should be a cracker.
FURY
“I’m going to severely damage him, he won’t be recognisable after the fight.”
Fury is raging here, several swear words too!
FURY
“It means total annihilation of the dosser!
“I’m going to put him in the infirmary.”
WILDER
“The weight came on, I wanted to look and feel sexy.
“There won’t be no pushing me. Calmness is the key to the storm.”
BAD MOUTHING
Some shouting from Fury towards Wilder, who responds with his own yells.
They both look like they could get in the ring right now!
FURY WEIGHT
Here’s Fury on the scales.
And the Gypsy King is 277lbs!
He was 273lbs last time…
WILDER WEIGHT
Deontay Wilder has stepped up to the scales.
And he is 238lbs!
That’s SEVEN pounds heavier than last time!
DON’T LET TRILOGY GO ‘TITS UP’
Ricky Hatton has urged mate Tyson Fury to keep British boxing afloat by not letting the Deontay Wilder trilogy go ‘tits up’.
The Manchester legend was ringside to watch AJ surrender his WBA, IBF and WBO world titles to Oleksandr Usyk on September 25, as prospect son Campbell Hatton got a win on the undercard.
In 2017 the UK held 13 boxing world titles but AJ’s defeat last month saw the number dwindle down to just six.
And the 43-year-old national treasure wants his old pal – who did two training camps in his Manchester gym when working with ex-trainer Ben Davison in 2019 – to keep his eye on the ball in Sin City this weekend so he does not lose his WBC belt.
“Tyson is the favourite but it is not a foregone conclusion,” the two-weight champion said. “It will be tricky.
“We all want Tyson to win but – like we saw with the AJ fight – these are all sticky wickets and it can all go tits up with one heavyweight punch.”
HERE THEY ARE
Here is Deontay Wilder, finally on the stage and surrounded by a huge entourage.
And straight after him is Tyson Fury, looking cool as a cucumber with his belts… and hat.
BOB’S YOUR UNCLE
In the meantime, here’s a picture of Bob Arum with some ring girls.
Credit: Reuters TIME HAS COME
We are nearly there folks.
Any moment now!
WEIGHTING AROUND
Another weigh-in, this time between undefeated pair Efe Ajagba and Frank Sanchez.
Sanchez comes in at 240lbs while Ajagba is 237lbs.
NEXT UP
We now have Robert Helenius vs Adam Kownacki.
Helenius is 246lb while Kownacki is 258lb.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
