Tyson Fury claims Wladimir Klitschko punches harder than Deontay Wilder

Tyson Fury has dismissed suggestions that WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder is the biggest puncher in the history of boxing and claims Wladimir Klitschko hit harder.

The Brit takes on Wilder in their long-awaited rematch in Las Vegas on February 22 after their first meeting back in 2018 ended in a draw, with Fury surviving a huge punch in the 12th round to miraculously get back up off the canvas.

Since then, Wilder – who has 41 knockouts in 43 pro fights – has registered showreel KOs against Dominic Breazeale and Luis Ortiz, but Fury is not concerned by his power.

Responding to the suggestion that Wilder is the biggest puncher in boxing history, Fury said: ‘I’ve felt the power – ain’t so bad. He can’t be the biggest puncher in history because he couldn’t knock The Gypsy King out, could he?

‘I took his best shot flush on the chin and I got back up. He punches hard, but I’ve never been hit by someone like Earnie Shavers, I didn’t get hit by George Foreman, I didn’t get hit by Rocky Marciano.

‘I didn’t get hit by any of those top guys so I can’t comment. So to say he’s the biggest puncher in history, I’m not really sure because I didn’t get hit by all the guys in history.

‘But, you know, I don’t think he punches harder than Wladimir Klitschko. Wladimir had a massive knockout punch and won a lot more fights than Wilder. Make no mistake, all heavyweights punch hard. And we can all knock anybody out.

‘With Wilder, it’s not so much his power. It’s the speed that he lands at. It can be tricky when you don’t see it coming.

‘But even a guy with no knockout ratio, if he hits you and you don’t see it coming, then he’s going to put you down. But I don’t feel any punches in the ring because adrenaline is high.’

On the prospect of having to get back up off the canvas again, Fury continued: ‘The one who should be concerned is Wilder. He’s a one-trick pony, a knockout artist, but he had me down in two rounds, the ninth and the 12th, and had over two minutes in each round to finish me. He couldn’t finish me.

‘He landed the two best punches that any heavyweight in the world could land. But The Gypsy King rose like a phoenix from the ashes back to my feet, and I hurt him at the end of the round.

‘I’ve been hit, hurt, put down. But it’s about what happens when you get back up. I keep moving forward. His boxing IQ was OK but not on par with someone like Wladimir Klitschko.’