What does Wilder have to do differently in this third fight?
Lance Pugmire, Senior Boxing Writer: Stop making excuses. Wilder was world heavyweight champion for five years. He must first and foremost reconnect with that stature and stop acting – like on Tuesday – as if Fury and others had hurt his feelings.
In the ring, his best path to victory is his explosive right hand. Let it fly early and often and take advantage of the moments when Fury is hurt. Wilder cannot approach this fight as if he could win it on the scorecards. He can not. He has to book a knockout.
How can Fury maintain his dominance from the second fight?
Pugmire: By doing everything he does. Mentally sharp, fit like never before and the image of calm, Fury told reporters on Tuesday that he believes he will flatten Wilder like the Briton is an 18-wheeler running over a man and predicting he will the fight by the end of completing the third round.
Fury is up to the expectations associated with being a champion, seizing the moments and defining the narrative like he did with Wilder on stage. A stellar boxer who made the sport’s top 10 pound-for-pound list, the undefeated Fury seems poised to be the best version of himself.
Who has more at stake?
Pugmire: Both men are under a lot of pressure. Remember, Fury only needs to start this fight because a referee intervened and decided that he was required to complete the contracted trilogy, rather than having a far more lucrative showdown for all four belts against Joshua.
This $ 150 million site fee deal awaits Fury should he and Joshua win their upcoming bouts.
But Wilder may have to win to keep his career going. Another defeat to Fury would set the Fury-Joshua double headers in motion, leaving a beaten Wilder with no hope of reclaiming a belt for a considerable amount of time. Far less daunting obstacles have sent men into retirement.
(Photo: Frederic J. Brown / AFP via Getty Images)
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