One mistake. That is all it would take for Britain to lose a second world heavyweight champion in a fortnight.
Tyson Fury knows it as he heads for the T-Mobile Arena on Saturday for his third encounter with the atomic power of Deontay Wilder.
‘One mistake could be catastrophe,’ says the Gypsy King as he braces himself to avoid being dethroned here just two weeks after Anthony Joshua surrendered his titles to Oleksandr Usyk in London. He adds: ‘Fortunately I know all about his power. I experienced it in our first fight.
One mistake from Tyson Fury could see the heavyweight title out of British hands on Saturday
The Gypsy King ends his thrilling trilogy with arch rival Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas, Nevada
‘I’m on guard and in our second fight I proved I know how to beat him. Yes, he has the biggest punch in boxing history. But I’ve got the biggest balls.’
Wilder knows that as he bids to retrieve the WBC belt ripped from him 20 months ago. To his shock and awe he saw Fury rise from the unconscious after his second knockdown in fight one of this rare heavyweight trilogy, his first opponent to survive being rendered horizontal.
Intriguingly, Fury adds: ‘Deontay can knock out any man with a quarter of a punch.’
Close slow motion scrutiny of the 12th round flattening in Los Angeles suggests that the right-left combination which dropped the Mancunian giant was comprised of two glancing blows to the top of the head.
Fury is aware of the consequences that a lapse brings, having been floored by Wilder in 2018
So what happens if Wilder lands flush on the jaw? ‘I always get up,’ says Fury.
‘And this one will be over in no time. A quickie for me. I’ll have him out of there in two or three rounds.’
Both men claim to have used their pandemic-enforced hiatus from the ring to effect high-percentage improvements to their boxing. The time out has also allowed a lot of bad blood to boil.
Fury has made it vehemently clear to Wilder this week, in four-letter expletives, that he is not forgiven for accusing him of cheating to win fight two. ‘Watch out, you big dosser,’ he shouted. ‘I’m putting knuckle dusters in my gloves this time.’
In the face of Fury’s volcanic brand of showmanship, Wilder says: ‘I hate him. First opponent I’ve ever truly hated. The hate is giving me a really violent mindset. Be ready for war and blood.’
Wilder is out for revenge and revealed that he 'hates' Fury in the build up to their third fight
Wilder is adamant that his heavyweight rival cheated his way to victory back in February 2020
Fury reads nervousness into that, saying: ‘I have the fearlessness factor. That’s the difference between a champion and a great champion. Anyone can win a title on any given night. To be great you have to be fearless to keep going and going.
‘Nobody at this elite level is afraid. But if Wilder is a bit scared after the beat down I put on him in
