Vegas Play of the Day: Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury II

By Case Keefer (contact)

Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020 | 12:53 p.m.

The sixth season of the annual Play of the Day betting competition between the Sun's sports staff is now underway, effective July 1.

Bankrolls start at $10,000 for each of the four participants, with the objective to increase it as much as possible over the next year. The minimum daily wager is $300, with a $200 penalty assessed for failing to place a bet on an assigned day.

Past winners are Case Keefer in 2018-19 and 2017-2018, Ray Brewer in 2016-2017 and 2015-2016, and Taylor Bern in 2014-2015.

Deontay Wilder by knockout, TKO or DQ over Tyson Fury at plus-135: $300 to win $405

If Wilder is to win tonight, as I believe he will, the most likely method is by knockout. That means this method-of-victory prop at Circa sports book still sits a bit high.

I’ve seen as low as plus-115 elsewhere in town, which makes more sense. Wilder came split-seconds away from knocking out Fury in their first fight, and he swears he’s gotten better.

It’s easy to believe him, not only considering we’ve seen it, against Dominic Brezaeale and Luis Ortiz following the Fury split draw, but how well he’s fared in rematches throughout his career.

Wilder is such an accomplished boxer that it’s hard to remember he’s still relatively new to the sport, having only debuted a little more than 11 years ago. He’s still getting better.

Fury is more of a finished product, a finished product that’s more than capable of outboxing Wilder tonight. But that requires him not getting caught with a big punch, and Wilder has caught everyone he’s ever faced with a big punch.

Current Standings: Keefer (27-23-2, $9,135), Grimala (14-5, $8,865), Brewer (14-11, $7,995), Emerson (13-16, $5,950)

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.