Tuscaloosa, Alabama is pretty much quiet now this time of year with the Crimson Tide's college football season over. The Crimson Tide defeated Michigan in the Citrus Bowl on New Years Day to wrap up their season. Now it's time for Tuscaloosa's own WBC heavyweight champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (42-0-1, 41 KOs) to the take the stage as he looks to settle some unfinished business with Tyson “The Gypsy King” Fury (29-0-1, 20 KOs) renewing his rivalry with the Englishman in the rematch Saturday, February 22 live on FOX Sports PPV & ESPN+ PPV live at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
"This is the biggest heavyweight fight. February 22nd when the bell rings they'll be no joke. It's going to be a great fight. It's unfinished business for me, I cant wait," Deontay Wilder told SouthernCaliforniaBoxing.com
It was December of 2018 that the two titans clashed as Wilder and Fury squared off at the Staples Center. Fighting to a draw as Wilder dropped Fury two times in the fight. Knocking down the giant in the ninth and also in the twelfth and final round as Fury got up like Jason from Friday the 13th, Michael Myers from Halloween, or the Undertaker.
"First fight was my time. It was amazing. When I look at the first fight. I see myself aggressive. I saw him doing a lot of taunting. I also look at it and I see myself too aggressive. Certain things I look at that I normally don't do in a fight," Wilder said about the first fight. "He got up and we have to give him credit for that but now he knows what I can do to him," Wilder added.
Since then Wilder has fought twice scoring two devastating knockouts. Following the Fury fight, Wilder destroyed 2012 U.S Olympian Dominic Breazeale with a highlight reel first round knockout and followed up with another knockout in his next fight.
"My last two outings, don't make it better for him. They know what they're up against," Wilder said.
Wilder is coming off a devastating knockout over Cuban heavyweight Luis 'King Kong" Ortiz in a rematch. In that fight Wilder was down on the judges scorecards when he knocked out Ortiz in the seventh.
"His outings compare to my outings. It's day and night," Wilder said. "He's a great fighter, I'll give him that,"
Struggling in his last fight, Fury is coming off a very tough fight as he defeated Sweden's Otto Wallin by decision. A fight which saw Fury suffer a nasty cut from a Wallin that gave the Gypsy King issues throughout the fight.
"I thought the fight should've been stopped. When you got a 3 to 4 inch cut in your eye and its about 2 inches deep. I understand he has a big fight coming up against me," Wilder said about Fury's last fight. "If I open that cut It's not going to be good. I'm coming with bad intentions,"
Yesterday Monday afternoon WIlder stood face to face with Fury for the first time since meeting in the ring over a year ago. Jawing at each other, Wilder feels that Fury is a nervous wreck coming into this fight. Fury has promised to trade with Wilder, a promise that Wilder himself don't take serious.
"He says he is going to knock me out in two rounds. I don't believe it. I don't believe anything he says. He is very nervous. I don't feel or believe that he will knock me out," Wilder said.
The champ has already began his training camp as he prepares for the rematch with Fury. Training with his longtime trainer Jay Deas and 1984 Olympic gold medalist former world champion Mark Breland.
"We have guys that bring the herky jerky style. Big guys that can mix it up to help me prepare for Fury," Wilder on his preparation. "More patience and being more calm is what I need to work on. A lot of feet positioning there will be somethings that will change to help me come February 22nd,"
So far Wilder is 2-0, 2 KO's in rematches as he will look to improve that stat to 3-0.
"In the rematch I'm much better in the ring because what I've seen in my opponent," Wilder explained. "With him I know what he will do. Everything he wants to do. I'll diffuse it. I'm looking forward to the rematch,"
Looking to make the eleventh defense of his WBC title he won over Bermaine Stiverne five years ago, Wilder will look to make a statement in the rematch.
"I knock guys out. It wont be different this time. You'll see a much more patient and calmer Wilder," Wilder said. "It will be a beautiful moment in the ring for me but not for him,"
Follow Miguel on Twitter @MigMaravilla