Sherdog’s Weekend Boxing Preview

The weights are in for #WilderFury2! @BronzeBomber: 231 lbs@Tyson_Fury: 273 lbs

Only one thing left to do. BUY the PPV: https://t.co/auWEj0uOn9 pic.twitter.com/GC2DUb94Op

— FOX Sports: PBC (@PBConFOX) February 21, 2020

WHAT: Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury 2
WHEN: Feb. 22
WHERE: MGM Grand Garden Arena | Las Vegas
HOW TO WATCH: Fox Sports Pay-Per-View, 9 p.m. ET
WHY YOU SHOULD CARE: This is the biggest possible heavyweight showdown in the sport today and one of the most significant heavyweight championship fights in years.

Wilder, the WBC titleholder, is one of the hardest-hitting heavyweights in boxing history, and Fury is a hulk of a man who moves like someone half his size. They fought to a thrilling split draw on Dec. 1, 2018, and fans have clamored for a rematch ever since.

Wilder (42-0-1, 41 KOs) dropped Fury with a left-right combination in the ninth round, then nearly decapitated him with a crushing right and glancing left hook in the 12th. Fury (29-0-1, 20 KOs) somehow rose off the canvas, finished the fight and settled for the draw. It was a perfect stylistic pairing between a knockout artist and a slick boxer, and Wilder nearly delivered the dramatic KO in the final round.

There has been plenty of bluster out of both men leading up to their rematch—and for good reason. They are masters at marketing themselves. Many observers felt that Fury, even with the two knockdowns, did enough to win on points. Wilder vowed to finish the job in the rematch. Will it live up to the hype?

Meanwhile, the 12-round co-main event will see WBO super bantamweight champion Emanuel Navarrete take on Jeo Santisima. Navarrete (30-1, 26 KOs) aims to make his fifth successful defense of the title he won in a unanimous decision over Isaac Dogboe in December 2018. Since then, the Mexican has knocked out four consecutive opponents. Santisima (19-2, 16 KOs) appears primed for his first-ever world title fight, but this is a significant hill to climb. He has not competed against anyone at Navarrete’s level.

Finally, former IBF champ Charles Martin (27-2-1, 24 KOs) will lock horns with Gerald Washington (20-3-1, 13 KOs), a one-time world title challenger, in an IBF heavyweight championship eliminator.