Deontay Wilder dismisses Tyson Fury threat despite weighing-in over three stone lighter than the Brit: 'I've fought way tougher guys'
Deontay Wilder dismissed suggestions Tyson Fury will provide him with his biggest challenge, after weighing in more than three stones lighter than his rival ahead of Saturday's fight at Los Angeles' Staples Center.
Fury smiled as he entered the stage shirtless and remained relaxed as he weighed in at 18 stone four pounds, engaging with his fans - who convincingly outnumbered Wilder's.
The two were then kept at a safe distance for their final face-off, following Wednesday's press conference when they and their two entourages threatened to get violent during a heated confrontation.
Wilder, 33 years old and 15st 2.5lbs, again wore the mask he uses to demonstrate his readiness to fight, and he said: "(This is) definitely the most important but definitely not the most difficult. I (have) fought way tougher guys than him.
"My opponent last fight (Luis Ortiz) was way tougher than him. This is just another step to get to where I want to go - there will be one champion (in the heavyweight division), one face, one name, and he'll go by the name (of) Deontay Wilder.
"I get to release everything that's inside of me. I can't wait. I'm going to knock him out."
Saturday's fight will take place in a 20ft ring - four foot smaller than the maximum permitted size, which the 30-year-old Fury used to memorably defeat Wladimir Klitschko - favouring the aggressive American.
Earlier, Wilder had said: "If people didn't think I hold all the marbles in boxing, after this fight, there ain't going to be any question who holds the marbles.
"The promotion has been amazing and I thank God for Tyson Fury because I have had to promote all of my old opponents. They were too scared to say what they would do.
"This event is big for me, all the guys before brought something to the table to take me to the next level.
"A lot of people doubted me before I fought a certain calibre of fighter. Ortiz changed that and Fury will do the same for me. I want you to witness greatness."
Wilder may not be the polished champion the Klitschko was when Fury unexpectedly outpointed him three years ago this week, but he is widely considered a more powerful and more explosive puncher.
The 30-year-old Fury recognises the extraordinary power that he possesses, but he also insists that Wilder is so flawed that he should still pose little threat.
"He punches hard but he didn't fight anyone until he'd had 30 fights," he said. "You can only knock out who's in front of you but if you're matched easily you get to 100-0.
"People are afraid before they get in there, like with Mike Tyson. They were just looking for a comfy place on the canvas.
"If I can't beat Deontay Wilder then I'm not very good, simple as that. If I can't beat Wilder I'm not the man I think I am. If I win a close fight I'll class it as a loss because it's not enough for me.
"How are you going to be considered a great if you can't beat a bum who throws windmills?"
There has also been little in the final days to change the widely-held view that the likeliest outcomes are a Wilder stoppage victory or a negative Fury earning a decision, but the latter's promoter Frank Warren said: "I don't think this will be a dancing contest. To fight (Wilder), you have to put him on the back foot.
"You have to take him out of his comfort zone. Let's see how he likes it if he starts putting it on him."
That's all from me
The weigh-in is done, the time for talking is over. All that awaits is the big event tomorrow night/Sunday morning.
Set your alarms, the Telegraph Sport will be live blogging from 3am GMT, giving you all the build-up, undercard action and, finally, Wilder vs Fury.
See you then!
Wilder squares up to Telegraph journalist
Wilder had more to say earlier this week when he squared up to Telegraph journalist Gareth A Davies before warning Tyson Fury he should ‘fear for his life’. Watch the extraordinary moment here.
From over 400lbs to 256lbs
Fury's transformation has been phenomenal. Read Gareth A Davies' version of the story here:
The focused vs the furious.
Here's a look at Wilder and Fury's exchange on stage.
Final face-off between @BronzeBomber & @Tyson_Fury#WilderFurypic.twitter.com/Wd2nSwsRff
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) November 30, 2018
To face-off or not to face-off?
The two fighters stand on opposite ends of the stage. Wilder is silent, still sporting his face mask. Fury is finger pointing and shouting obscenities and needs to be held back, Wilder cannot be lured however.
Fury leaves the stage, while Wilder gives a brief interview: "Talk is cheap, tomorrow is time. Actions speak louder than words so tomorrow I get to release everything inside of me. I can't wait."
Is Fury his most difficult opponent?
"It's definitely the most important but not the most difficult. I've fought way tougher guys than him. My opponent last fight was way tougher than him.
"This is just another step for me getting to where I want to go. Like I said there will be one champion, one face, one name, and he goes by the name of Deontay Wilder."
A "BOMB SQUAD" call to arms from the heavyweight champion to finish, and we're done.
Fury tops the scales
The crowd is a sea of phones, the moment is here.
The two giants in boxing make their way onto the stage. Challenger Fury is up first, wooden rosary beads around his neck, top already off, to his chanting supporters. Wilder comes on next with a full face mask to a few boos - no doubt from the travelling British fans who are out in full force.
Fury weighs-in at 256.5lbs, while the leaner Wilder unsurprisingly comes in at the much lighter 212.5lbs.
Heavyweight greats take to the stage
Some Hall of Famers have been welcomed to the stage for a photo opp - Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield and Buster Douglas among them.
The main event of the weigh-in is up next...
Jarrett Hurd vs. Jason Wellborn
British boxer Wellborn will challenge Hurd for the super welterweight title, which has a 154lbs maximum weight. Wellborn weighs in at 152.5lbs, with Hurd at 152.6lbs.
Luis Ortiz vs. Travis Kauffman
Ortiz (who fell to Wilder in March) weighs in at 241, with his American opponent at 229.
First up: Joe Joyce vs. Joe Hanks
The heavyweights are the first to take to the scales. Hanks comes in at 247.5lbs, with 6ft 6in Joyce towering over him and outweighing him at 262lbs.
The two fighters come face to face in a pretty relaxed way - not a sign of things to come, no doubt.
Joe Joye just dwarfs over everyone ��
He's been in the ring with Tyson in the run-up to #WilderFury...https://t.co/G02VNeeM7c— Watch Wilder v Fury on BT Sport Box Office �� (@BTSportBoxing) November 30, 2018
And we're off...
For anyone not watching the livestream, the weigh-in is just about to begin in sunny LA...
Fury has arrived
Fury really knows how to make an entrance:
�� There's only one @Tyson_Fury, one Tyson Furrrrry!" ��
The Gypsy King makes his weigh-ins entrance riding on the roof of a car with an army of Fury fans chanting his name ���� #WilderFurypic.twitter.com/8lC2TKZBO7— Watch Wilder v Fury on BT Sport Box Office �� (@BTSportBoxing) November 30, 2018
Undercard fights
Here are the other bouts that will feature in the weigh-in:
Super welterweight
Jarrett Hurd vs. Jason Wellborn
Heavyweight
Luis Ortiz vs. Travis Kauffman
Heavyweight
Joe Joyce vs. Joe Hanks
Light heavyweight title
Adonis Stevenson (c) vs. Oleksandr Gvozdyk
Gareth A Davies' preview
Telegraph Sport's boxing correspondent Gareth A Davies has been in on all the action in Los Angeles and offered this analysis of the build-up so far:
David Haye backs Wilder
This is the most excited I have been about a fight since Anthony Joshua versus Wladimir Klitschko in 2017, and I believe it's the most important one since that Wembley showdown.
Tyson Fury is the outsider here, but he has a history of upsetting the applecart. I'm hearing all the same things now - in fact, I'm saying them myself - that Fury doesn't have the firepower to deal with Deontay Wilder, but Tyson can find a way.
But I am leaning pretty heavily towards Wilder, taking into account how the two of them have lived their lives over the past few years.
My bet would be Wilder by stoppage. Fury has never faced an athlete like him before. The American reminds me of an NBA player in the way he can just keep going.
Tyson will be aiming for a points win, but at no point will he be able to get excited even if plenty of rounds have passed. It only takes one Wilder punch to knock him out.
Freddie Roach, the Hall-of-Fame boxing coach who has been working in Fury’s training camp, has other thoughts. He's backed Fury outright in his piece for Telegraph Sport today.
Tensions reach peak
Here's a reminder of what happened the last time these two were in a room together, at the fight's final press conference on Wednesday.
Hello!
Welcome to the Telegraph Sport's live updates and live stream of the prelude to the fight the world has been waiting for. Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder will weigh-in in the next hour, and the hype is at boiling point.
Tonight is the final opportunity for both fighters to measure up their opponent, and neither have held back in their assessments of each other so far - as Wednesday's press conference showed.
Fury represents the highest-profile and most significant challenge Wilder - the WBC heavyweight champion - has ever faced, and to many neutral observers a convincing victory would make Wilder the world's leading heavyweight.
The 33-year-old today said he relished in the thought of what his prospects would be come Saturday night should come out the victor.
"If people didn't think I hold all the marbles in boxing, after this fight, there ain't going to be any question who holds the marbles," he said.
"The promotion has been amazing and I thank God for Tyson Fury because I have had to promote all of my old opponents. They were too scared to say what they would do.
"This event is big for me. A lot of people doubted me before I fought a certain calibre of fighter. (Past opponent Luis) Ortiz changed that and Fury will do the same for me. I want you to witness greatness."
Wilder may not be the polished champion the great Wladimir Klitschko was when Fury unexpectedly outpointed him three years ago this week, but he is widely considered a more powerful and more explosive puncher.
The 30-year-old Fury recognises the extraordinary power that he possesses, but he also insists that Wilder is so flawed that he should still pose little threat.
"He punches hard but he didn't fight anyone until he'd had 30 fights," he said. "You can only knock out who's in front of you but if you're matched easily you get to 100-0.
"If I can't beat Deontay Wilder then I'm not very good, simple as that. If I can't beat Wilder I'm not the man I think I am. If I win a close fight I'll class it as a loss because it's not enough for me.
"How are you going to be considered a great if you can't beat a bum who throws windmills?"
Stay with us for live updates in the build-up and a live stream of the weigh-in starting at 9pm.
