Page 22 - aruba-today-20181201

A22 SPORTS
Saturday 1 december 2018
The big fight: In Fury, Wilder faces true heavyweight equal

LOS ANGELES (AP) — De- he can rebuild himself. ...
ontay Wilder has waited a Everyone will love the sto-
decade for the chance to ry, but he's just not ready
pick on somebody his own to get past me. This is too
size. much for him."
Wilder (40-0, 39 KOs) is the Fury has fought twice since
most accomplished Ameri- his 2 ½-year ring hiatus,
can heavyweight boxer of both times against over-
his era, a superb athlete matched foes. But he is re-
with vicious punching pow- invested in his career after
er and a reckless streak. moving his training base to
The Olympic medalist has California, and he radiates
stopped every man who confidence as he resumes
ever stepped in the profes- his pursuit of the title belts
sional ring with him, follow- he lost during his absence.
ing up his lone decision vic- Wilder sees Fury as a
tory with a knockout in the heavyweight whose record
first round of the rematch. was even less impressive
Yet even the 32-year-old than his own before that
Wilder agrees he had never shocking victory over the
fought anyone approach- 39-year-old Klitschko.
ing his own stature — not "You only have confidence
in physical size, but in box- because Klitschko didn't
ing achievement — until throw punches," Wilder said
quite recently. He has built to Fury during their final
his career with sometimes news conference.
confounding deliberate- Wilder and Fury seem al-
ness, taking his time to learn Boxers Deontay Wilder, left, and Tyson Fury exchange words as they face each other at a news most certain to put on an
the sport he only picked up conference in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. The pair are slated to fight Saturday night entertaining show, and
as a 20-year-old after mov- for Wilder's WBC heavyweight title. not just because of their
ing on from football and Associated Press compelling public appear-
basketball in his native Ala- ances — the most recent of
bama. sulates everything Wilder can't wait to try it. drug abuse and depres- which ended with Fury rip-
"Everybody has their ap- has craved for years, even "This is bringing me close sion after his victory over ping off his shirt after nearly
pointed time," Wilder said when he knew he wasn't to my goal to be the one Klitschko. coming to blows with Wild-
this week. "My time is now." ready. face, the one voice of Fury has enough fame and er on stage.
When Wilder steps into the "So much emotion is run- the heavyweight division," success in boxing-mad Eng- Wilder's style is occasion-
Staples Center ring to de- ning through my body Wilder said. "America has land to match up favorably ally awkward, but he loves
fend his WBC title against right now," Wilder said. "I needed a heavyweight outside the ring with Wilder, action and realizes his best
Britain's Tyson Fury (27-0, was ready for this 10 weeks champion like me for years. and the Manchester native chance to win every fight is
19 KOs) on Saturday night, ago. We only went through This is my time." sees this matchup in quite with the knockout power in
he finally has the right op- a training camp because Wilder took another big different terms. his heavy hands.
ponent on the right stage we didn't want to get stale. step toward his ultimate "Wilder needs me, make Fury is an excellent boxer
at the right moment. Fury I didn't need it. I've been goal earlier this year when no mistake," Fury said. "He's who could frustrate Wilder
is the lineal champion of ready for so long." he came back from an been champion since 2015, for long stretches, yet he
the heavyweight division, The 6-foot-7 American is early knockdown to stop he's made seven defenses, also loves to discard cau-
thanks to his shocking vic- actually the smaller man in highly regarded Luis Ortiz in but he's still unknown. So tion in favor of a good
tory over Wladimir Klitschko this bout against the 6-foot- an entertaining finish. When what do they need to do? brawl.
in 2015, and his showdown 9 Fury, whose pure bulk ob- British three-belt champ Bring in a big-mouthed "I've been looking for some-
with Wilder is probably the scures his nimble feet and Anthony Joshua refused Brit, the best fighter in the body to knock me out
most important heavy- excellent technique. his advances this summer, world, and let him get his my whole life," Fury said.
weight bout since . Punching up is a new feel- Wilder booked a bout with (tail) kicked. He'll become "I haven't found him yet. I
The pay-per-view Holly- ing for Wilder, both inside the resurgent Fury, whose known. He'll get a good don't think I'll find him Satur-
wood spotlight encap- and outside the ring, but he career foundered amid hiding from Tyson Fury, and day night."q

Chase Elliott wins NASCAR's most popular driver award

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Chase 16 set by Chase Elliott's fa- sponsored by the National wins. It was a good year," to the big leagues with
Elliott has been voted NAS- ther, Bill Elliott. "Definitely Motorsports Press Asso- Elliott said. "We couldn't fin- Hendrick Motorsports as he
CAR's most popular driver, a big passing," Elliott said ciation. Bill Elliott won the ish it off as strong as those replaced retiring four-time
ending a 15-year run for told Earnhardt on stage. award every year between couple months there in the champion Jeff Gordon.
superstar Dale Earnhardt Jr. "So cool, though, that it 1984 and 2002, until he re- summer, late summer, but Elliott was in the seat not
Earnhardt presented El- stayed between Elliott and moved his name from con- looking forward to '19 and long after his 20th birthday.
liott the award during Earnhardt for so long. I am sideration. Now, the award excited to get back going." Chase entered the series
NASCAR's annual season- glad, though, that you quit has returned to the Elliott His first trip to victory lane with a built-in fan base that
ending awards ceremony a year before you broke family. Chase Elliott won was years in the making. desperately wanted him
Thursday at the Wynn Las Dad's record, so that's pret- three times in the Cup Se- Elliott won the Xfinity Se- to match his father's suc-
Vegas. Earnhardt won the ty cool. I'm pretty happy ries in 2018, including twice ries championship in 2014, cess. Because he drove
award for 15 consecutive about that. We got it back in the playoffs. when he was 18 and finally for powerhouse Hendrick,
years until his retirement in the right name. I'm a little "I was in some good situa- eligible to run a full NAS- in Gordon's old ride, many
last season. His streak fell biased. Sorry." The award is tions with some fast cars CAR season. Plans were figured wins would come
one short of the record of based on a fan vote and and I was able to get a few formed in 2015 for his move immediately.q