Tyson Fury has faced many tough opponents in his 16-year boxing career. But he's now named Deontay Wilder as the hardest hitter he's ever fought, even tougher than Francis Ngannou.
Fury's early career was mostly smooth sailing, though he did hit the canvas against Neven Pajkic and Steve Cunningham. After a three-year break, he came back strong with a series of fights against Deontay Wilder for the WBC World Title.
The first Wilder fight ended in a draw, with Fury surviving two knockdowns. Fury won the next two fights, but not without touching the canvas again in the third bout.
More recently, Fury fought Francis Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight champ known for his powerful punches. The fight was meant to be a warm-up for Fury's undisputed battle with Oleksandr Usyk. Not many people thought Ngannou stood a chance, but he surprised everyone by dropping Fury in the third round. Fury still won by split decision.
In his latest fight, Fury lost to Usyk in their undisputed battle. Fury had some good moments, but Usyk dominated the ninth round, leaving Fury looking shaky.
In a recent chat with The Stomping Ground, Fury compared the punching power of Ngannou and Wilder:
"Ngannou's a big puncher but I wasn't really troubled by any of his punches. It wasn't like dynamite. He caught me with one shot to the back of the head. But Wilder is the biggest puncher I've ever been in the ring with by a mile. By far [harder than Ngannou]."
Wilder's career has taken a hit lately. He's lost his last two fights against Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang, and he's thinking about retiring. With 42 knockouts in 43 wins, Wilder's power is undeniable. But some think the Fury fights might have changed him for good.
Fury's words carry weight. He's felt the power of both Ngannou and Wilder, and he's clear about who hits harder. It's a testament to Wilder's incredible punching power, even as his career winds down.