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A22 SPORTS
Tuesday 14 January 2020
Fury predicts early KO of Wilder in heavyweight rematch

By GREG BEACHAM a knockout. He believes
AP Sports Writer he can find that extra res-
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tyson ervoir of strength this time,
Fury leaned into the micro- even if he has to abandon
phone and issued an auda- the boxing skills that served
cious prediction to Deon- him well for most of the first
tay Wilder regarding their fight.
heavyweight rematch. Wilder is aiming for a knock-
"You're going to sleep in out, but he also believes he
two rounds," the English can win a decision. He also
champion said Monday. feels the first fight should
Wilder replied by picking have been stopped due
up his own microphone to a deep cut on Fury's
and loudly sniffing it, mock- face. In fact, Wilder thinks
ing Fury for his past prob- he would have won the
lems with drug abuse. first fight on the scorecards
When these two unbeaten if he hadn't given away a
heavyweights got together few early rounds by com-
in downtown Los Angeles ing out "overexcited and
on Monday, they picked anxious."
up right where they left off "But when you have devas-
across the street in Decem- tating power like I do, you
ber 2018. don't worry about rounds,"
Their thrilling split draw at Tyson Fury, of England, hits Tom Schwarz, of Germany, during a heavyweight boxing match Wilder said. "He's got to sur-
Staples Center has led to a Saturday, June 15, 2019, in Las Vegas. vive 12 rounds with me."
rematch Feb. 22 in Las Ve- Associated Press Wilder also suggested Fury's
gas, and both men claim was Fury's stunning rise from this matchup is fascinat- and hired a nutritionist with bravado masks the British
they expect a knockout a 12th-round knockdown ing because it pits Fury's a knockout in mind, mov- boxer's worries about his
victory in what's likely to that had left him flat on his boxing skills — which are ing from trainer Ben Davi- chin and his American op-
be the most-anticipated back. impressive for any fighter, son to Javan Hill, a nephew ponent's ferocity. Wilder
heavyweight title fight in "I'm prepared for more let alone a hulking heavy- and disciple of the late Em- points to Fury's less-than-
recent years. than ever," Wilder said. "I weight — against Wilder's manuel Steward. impressive effort against
Although both fighters are told Fury two years ago I ferocious punching power, "I can't win a decision here, Sweden's Otto Wallin in
skilled in the craft of promo- was going to baptize him, which is likely unmatched and I accept that," said September as a sign of his
tional hyperbole, it was still and I did just that. Rising in the sport. Fury, who won a decision in decline.
a surprise when Fury (29-0- up is part of the baptism. Fury nearly won the first Las Vegas four months ago. "When you get knocked
1, 20 KOs) declared he can I told him he was going to bout with his impressive "I'm going for a knockout down like that, and you
knock out Wilder within the go, 'Timber!' And he did just movement and activ- because thinking I won the don't know how you got on
first six minutes at the MGM that. This time around, it's ity, but Wilder's strength fight ain't enough. I need the ground, let alone how
Grand Garden Arena. called unfinished business. proved to be an equalizer. to know. Thinking it doesn't you got up, it's scary," Wild-
A knockout prediction is no He won't be able to get Fury would have claimed a count. I need to end the er said of his 12th-round
surprise at all coming from back up. This time, I'm go- decision on the scorecards fight." knockdown of Fury. "It's not
Wilder (42-0-1, 41 KOs), ing to knock him out." if he hadn't been knocked Fury believes he hurt Wilder only scary for you. It's scary
whose peerless punching Aside from the fighters' down twice, yet Fury insists several times in their first for your friends, your family,
power dropped Fury twice charismatic personalities he must win by knockout to bout, but said he "just didn't because they know you're
in their first bout. The fight's and their penchants for get a decision in the U.S. have the gas" that would going in there with that
most memorable moment wild public statements, He even changed trainers have been necessary for monster."q
AP Source: NHL All-Star game to feature women 3-on-3 event

By JOHN WAWROW AP the three-on-three game a huge splash by becom- as North America's lone made up of patchwork
Hockey Writer has been in the works for ing the first woman to par- professional league. rosters with a handful of as-
The NHL is increasing its pro- months, with as many as 24 ticipate in the skills event A majority of players, sociation players having re-
motion of women's hockey players set to participate and then finished seventh however, balked at mak- turned to play.
by adding a three-on-three after the final rosters were in the fastest skater com- ing the jump to the NWHL The NHL has avoided the
game between U.S. and being established late last petition. and instead vowed to not appearance of playing
Canadian national team week, two of the people What's difficult to gauge is play professionally in North favorites, first between
members to its All-Star fes- told AP. The game was first what signal the NHL might America this season. Even- the CWHL and NWHL, by
tivities later this month in St. reported by ESPN.com. be sending by having a tually, nearly 200 top play- providing each league
Louis.. The women's game This isn't the first time the number of the world's top ers formed the Professional $75,000 annually (the NHWL
will happen during the Jan. NHL has invited female female players sharing the Women's Hockey Players' received the CWHL's share
24-25 weekend that showe- players to attend its All-Star spotlight when women's Association to push for a once the Canadian league
cases the top players in the game. hockey is in a state of flux. league they say must have folded).
NHL, according to three Two years ago, with Team The uncertainty arose in a sustainable economic Commissioner Gary Bet-
people with direct knowl- USA training nearby in ad- late March, when the six- model. The PWHPA has tman has supported the
edge of the plans who vance of the Winter Olym- team Canadian Wom- since launched a series of idea of the NHL forming
discussed them Monday pics, the NHL invited three en's Hockey League an- barnstorming tours, with its its own league, but not at
with The Associated Press American players to be on nounced it was folding due most recent stop in Toron- the expense of pushing an
on condition of anonymity hand but not participate. to financial reasons after 12 to this past weekend. The existing league out of busi-
because the NHL isn't set Last year, four players were seasons, leaving the U.S.- NWHL, in the meantime, is ness. Bettman has said he
to reveal its plans until later invited and American Ken- based five-team National in the middle of its fifth sea- doesn't want the NHL to
this week. The plan to hold dall Coyne Schofield made Women's Hockey League son and featuring teams appear like a bully. q