Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach, who is working with Tyson Fury, believes his boxer is fully capable of beat WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder.
Roach will be in Fury corner’s on Saturday night, when Fury challenges Wilder at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
Fury had traveled over to the United States to train in Big Bear, California – and then moved to Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.
Fury is a slight underdog in the contest, but Roach views the contest in a different light.
“In my view Tyson should be the favourite. If he can out-box Klitschko he can out-box Wilder, who is not as good as Wladimir,” Roach told Daily Mail.
“Wilder has a heavy right hand but Tyson has the vision to see the blows coming and the brains to slip away if sees Deontay cocking his fist to throw his biggest punch. He is very athletic and mobile for someone so big. Tyson’s legs have not suffered from taking off so much weight. He has sparred 12 rounds comfortably several times.”
Roach has technically been retained at the cut man, while Ben Davison is the head trainer in Fury’s corner. The veteran coach will not be speaking to Fury in the ring, but he will be talking strategy with Davison during rounds.
“Tyson is an absolute gentleman and he has behaved like a gentleman every day,” says Roach. “The first thing he asked was what I would charge for him to use the gym. I told him that I don’t charge world champions. It’s been really nice to have him here. A pleasure.
“Out of the blue, Tyson asked me if I would work with the team on this fight. I said I’d love to but I didn’t want him to have too many coaches. So he asked if I could do cuts. I said yes but we had two doctors who are better than me, who know the materials better. But officially I’m the cuts man. He and Ben have worked on their plan but if there’s something I have to offer I mention it.
“Ben will be the one in the ring between rounds in the Staples Center. There should only be one voice. No confusion. But if I see something during the fight I will talk to Ben from outside the ropes and it will be his decision whether to pass on the information.”
–boxingscene
