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 Saturdayโs fight at Los Angelesโ 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 โ who convincingly outnumbered Wilderโs.
The two were then kept at a safe distance for their final face-off, following Wednesdayโs 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: โ(This is) definitely the most important but definitely not the most difficult. I (have) fought way tougher guys than him.
โMy opponent last fight (Luis Ortiz) was way tougher than him. This is just another step to get to where I want to go โ there will be one champion (in the heavyweight division), one face, one name, and heโll go by the name (of) Deontay Wilder.
โI get to release everything thatโs inside of me. I canโt wait. Iโm going to knock him out.โ
Saturdayโs fight will take place in a 20ft ring โ four foot smaller than the maximum permitted size, which the 30-year-old Fury used to memorably defeat Wladimir Klitschko โ favouring the aggressive American.
Earlier, Wilder had said: โIf people didnโt think I hold all the marbles in boxing, after this fight, there ainโt going to be any question who holds the marbles.
โThe 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.
โThis event is big for me, all the guys before brought something to the table to take me to the next level.
โA 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.โ
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.
โHe punches hard but he didnโt fight anyone until heโd had 30 fights,โ he said. โYou can only knock out whoโs in front of you but if youโre matched easily you get to 100-0.
โPeople are afraid before they get in there, like with Mike Tyson. They were just looking for a comfy place on the canvas.
โIf I canโt beat Deontay Wilder then Iโm not very good, simple as that. If I canโt beat Wilder Iโm not the man I think I am. If I win a close fight Iโll class it as a loss because itโs not enough for me.
โHow are you going to be considered a great if you canโt beat a bum who throws windmills?โ
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 latterโs promoter Frank Warren said: โI donโt think this will be a dancing contest. To fight (Wilder), you have to put him on the back foot.
โYou have to take him out of his comfort zone. Letโs see how he likes it if he starts putting it on him.โ