Tyson Fury tricked Deontay Wilder with ‘mind game’ at weigh-in before shock knockout, ex-trainer Ben Davison claimed

Tyson Fury shocked the boxing world when he revolutionised his style and knocked out Deontay Wilder in their second fight.

The Brit had previously developed a reputation as an elusive, back-foot boxer – having fought this way to beat Wladimir Klitschko in 2015, and also in his controversial 2018 draw with Wilder in their first bout, which many felt he deserved to win.

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In the final round of that first fight though, Fury went on the front foot and had success attacking Wilder after being dramatically dropped himself.

Learning from this success, he changed his style completely for their rematch.

Fury famously took the fight to Wilder second time around, walking him down, flooring him twice and stopping him in round seven.

The Gypsy King was trained by Ben Davison in 2018, but by the time of the second clash with Wilder in 2020, he’d changed coaches to SugarHill Steward (while remaining close friends with Davison).

This allowed Davison to give an inside view into Fury’s approach and he told talkSPORT after the rematch: “It was sort of like round 13.

“Wilder did not look very confident and Tyson had actually said to me ages ago he was looking to have a fast start.

“Start fast and re-implement everything into Wilder’s mind and it worked an absolute treat because when Tyson took a right hand from Wilder, Tyson believed he could take Wilder’s power.

“He took a right hand in the first round and went flying straight back at Wilder and I think that just increased those doubts which started in the twelfth round of the last fight and it sort of went from there.”

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Davison also said he’s certain Fury played mind games with Wilder by coming in at a false weight at the weigh-in, although he didn’t explain how Fury achieved this.

The Brit had scaled 256½lbs (18st 4lbs 8oz) for their first meeting, but came in at a massive 273lbs (19st 7lbs) before the second bout.

Wilder was a full three stone lighter than Fury at 231lbs (16st 7lbs), and this may have played on his mind in the final 24 hours before the clash.

Davison opined: “Personally, I believe that was a manufactured weight on the scales [from Fury]. I don’t believe he was that heavy.

“I believe that was part of the mind games going on. I know Tyson, I know his body and I do not believe he was that heavy – in fact I know he was not that heavy.

“I believe his morning weight was more in the region of 18st 8lbs/18st 9lbs (260lbs/261lbs). And obviously throughout the day as you’re eating and drinking your weight will increase there.

“But I believe the weight he stopped on the scales at was manufactured weight all part of mind games – which he is the master of.”

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