On Saturday, February 22, 2020, two of the best heavyweights in the division will square off in the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder first fought in December of 2018 in a thrilling match that ended in a draw. In that bout Wilder dropped Fury twice. However, Fury outboxed Wilder leading some to claim that Fury should have won the fight. So who has the edge? Who Will come out on top? Will the skillful boxer win in the end or will the Bronx bomber pull out the victory threw his raw power?

Tyson Fury is a different type of fighter. He’s technically sound, big, and light on his feet. He shows flashes of Muhammed Ali in his style. He is constantly moving around the ring and using his jab effectively. In addition, in his win against Otto Wallin, Fury showed his grit and toughness after suffering a nasty cut over his right eye. Boxing analyst, Max Kellerman, said on ESPN’s First Take that he was surprised at how Fury got up after being knocked down by Wilder. Fury can dance around you and give just as much as he can take.

While Fury is a stylistic and a technically great boxer, Deontay Wilder is not. Wilder relies on his raw power. The power behind Wilders punches is unlike anything in the history of boxing. He is a modern day George Foreman. Despite his lack of technical skill, Wilder holds a record of 42-0-1, that one draw coming from his fight with Fury. The most impressive part of that record is that 41 out of Wilder’s 42 victories have come via knockout, as opposed to Fury’s record of 29-0-1 with 20 of the victories coming via knockout. While Fury does have knockout power, it is nothing compared to the raw power of Deontay Wilder.

Let’s look at how each fighter could win this fight:

For Fury, it is all about skill and movement. While Wilder’s power could be overwhelming, it can also be overwhelming for him. Every Wilder right hand seems to be begging for a knockout. When Wilder throws his right he tends to over extend it and if his opponents can get out of the way they can automatically take the inside. This happened many times in their first bout but Fury never capitalized on it. Fury could easily work the body for a few seconds and then move away out of Wilders reach. It seems clear that Fury needs to win this fight on points. It is highly unlikely that he will knockout Wilder. Fury can win by utilizing his jab, keeping Wilder at a distance, and capitalizing on opportunities to work Wilder’s body.

For Wilder, it is just like every other fight. Wilder will win by knocking Tyson Fury out. Wilder’s power is unmatched and he is always looking to put his opponent on the mat. This has worked in almost every one of his fights, however, Tyson Fury is different. The key for Wilder is to take it slow and pick his spots. He has to place his punches well, avoid Fury’s jab and while he should take it slow at first, once he has Fury on the ropes, he can not let up. Wilder is a fantastic finisher and needs to use that to take down Fury when he is hurt, because if you hurt Tyson Fury, you can’t let him recover or he will punish you for it.

In this writers opinion, Tyson Fury will take the decision victory. Wilder’s power may be intimidating, but I believe Fury will come in with movement and confidence. Let the best man win. The fight is pay-per-view and will air on February 22, 2020.