Boxing: Tyson Fury vs. Deontay Wilder: Is the new golden era of heavyweight over again?

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Tyson Fury (l.) And Deontay Wilder weighing in

Photo: ETIENNE LAURENT / EPA

It wasn't long ago that the boxing world dreamed of a new golden era in heavyweight division. In 2018, SPIEGEL also said that the premier class of fistfighting could finally produce exciting fights again after decades of boredom. With the British Tyson Fury and the American Deontay Wilder, two of the great hopefuls meet on Sunday night in Las Vegas. At stake is the world title according to the version of the World Boxing Council (WBC). It should be a spectacular fight. How do you know? Quite simply: Fury and Wilder are facing each other for the third time.

When they first met in December 2018, Fury went down twice. Shortly before the end, Wilder caught him with a tough right that most boxers would not have recovered from. But somehow Fury managed to get back on his feet. The fight ended in a draw. The rematch in February 2020 also offered a lot of action, but took a completely different course. This time Fury dominated, sending Wilder to the mat twice. In the seventh round, the towel flew. Wilder's corner gave up.

It is good and right that it will now be the third meeting. Wilder was clearly beaten in the rematch, but it was the first loss of his career and he deserved another chance. In addition, he was contractually guaranteed the fight, even if Fury's camp refused to admit it for a long time. A court finally had to decide and Wilder was right.

As good as this news is for Wilder, it also carries great risk.

He has the opportunity to return the favor for the premature defeat.

But what if he clearly loses again?

That would not only be bad for the American, but also for the future of the heavyweight division.

After Anthony Joshua, who clearly had to surrender to Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk at the end of September, Wilder would be the next superstar who - at least for the time being - would say goodbye to the world's top heavyweight division.

Wilder has to save the premier class

The hope of many fans and experts was that Fury, Joshua and Wilder would box against each other in all imaginable constellations and thus guarantee a multitude of great fights. Now it looks as if only Fury remains of the triumvirate - and with Usyk a potential opponent for a title union, who is an outstanding boxer, but whose technical style is far less spectacular than that of Ko-machine Wilder and the harder one Market is as sunnyboy and model athlete Joshua.

Joshua has drawn his rematch clause and will try to take the world title away from Usyk. But in view of the clear defeat, it is difficult to imagine that the revenge can succeed. This means that the already agreed dream fight between Fury and Joshua is over for the time being. Because why should Fury bother with loser Joshua after beating Wilder?

So it is up to Wilder to save heavyweight boxing in addition to his career.

He unquestionably has the potential to beat Fury as a punch in both fists.

But he also has to bring his extremely hard hands to the finish, and that should be the big problem.

Because a Fury in top form - fully trained and highly concentrated over twelve rounds - can probably not be met.

The Briton is so tall that he can lean his upper body back so far at any time that it is simply out of reach for Wilder's wrestlers.

In addition, Fury has an outstanding pace and timing for its size.

So if Fury shows his qualities, he could destroy Wilder's dreams of more big fights.

And the supposedly golden era of the heavyweight division at the same time.