Few trilogies manage to rise in the third episode.
Especially those whose first episode was very good and the second excellent, as in the case of Tyson Fury and Downtay Wilder.
The two heavyweight boxers met on the night between Saturday and Sunday in Las Vegas for the third episode in a rivalry between them, and behind them were two episodes that were blockbuster bestsellers.
The first time was in December 2018 in California and ended in a controversial tie, and the second time, defined as an “open account,” took place in February 2020 and ended in Fiori’s victory in a technical knockout after seven rounds.
Yesterday, 20 months after that time, they once again entered one arena together in a battle for the World Heavyweight Championship, delivering the best episode of all.
What made this episode the best of all, other than of course the content it provided, was the many trailers.
In the original plan, this battle was scheduled to take place in July 2020, but that date was shelved due to the outbreak of the corona virus and surgery that Wilder underwent, so it was decided on October.
An attempt was then made to hold it at all in December 2020 and without an audience, but matters of broadcasting rights and conflict with football broadcasts in America led to further postponement.
Fiori, the "Gipsy King" from Manchester, decided at this point to give up the pleasure.
He claimed that this rejection mess was enough for him, and announced his retirement from the battle.
Wilder, the "bronze bomber" from Alabama, responded with a video in which he accuses Fury of cheating in their previous battle in February.
Wilder on the boards.
Is the saga over?
Photo: AFP,
The situation became so sensitive that in order to decide whether to fight this battle under contract, the matter came to court, and it was decided that it did.
The date set was July 2021, but then Fiori was found positive for Corona.
Eventually October 9 was set, and then it finally happened.
"It was a historical trilogy"
Just as a long wait makes the food tastier, so it happened with the battle.
The two boxers stood up to him at the peak of their careers, and from the first round gave their all.
While Wilder made a good, clean-up preparation, Fiori was a big puzzle when the bell rang.
About two years ago, the Briton seemed to have finished boxing when he publicly announced his handling of drinking problems and mental illness, in addition to which he fell ill in Corona, and was recently forced to return to the US due to the birth of his sixth daughter.
Despite this, the 33-year-old Fiori was sharp from the start.
A combination of punches on the right and left left Wilder unanswered, and the American was the first to fall during the third round.
Wilder fought back and knocked down Fiori in the fourth round twice, but the sequel was to the British.
After sending the American to the boards once again in the tenth round, the battle was decided.
"I proved once again that I cannot be erased," the Briton said a moment after his hand was raised.
"Never doubt me. When money is on the table, I always bring results."
With a clean sheet of losses in the 32 fights throughout his career, Fiori allowed himself to make statements.
"I'm the heaviest heavyweight boxer of my time, without a doubt I'm number one," he stated emphatically.
Its place in history books in this category is debatable.
Still, there are Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Joe Fraser, Ken Norton and others, but in one thing Fiori is not wrong.
Today he is the best in his weight, and certainly better than his main competitor - Wilder.
"If you play with fire too much - you burn," he concluded.
"My and Wilder's saga is finally over. It was a historical trilogy, but I probably wanted to win more."
Photo: AFP,