Tyson Fury labelled Deontay Wilder “weak” before a blazing argument erupted between the heavyweights at their final pre-fight press conference, leading to the traditional staredown being scrapped.
Fury defends his WBC title on Saturday against a fighter he defeated to become champion, and it was the outcome of that bout 20 months ago – and Wilder’s unfounded allegations of cheating – that was the catalyst for a heated row.
Wilder had earlier doubled down on his assertion that Fury had only prevailed in their second fight because of underhand tactics and said: “I don’t regret it, I will go to my grave believing in what I believe in.”
But in his closing remarks, Fury asked why Wilder had brought in new trainer Malik Scott and overhauled his preparation for Saturday’s fight.
“I ask the question, if I only won because I cheated, what was the point of changing everything and doing all this other work?” Fury said. “Deep down in his soul, he knows that he lost and he’ll lose again. After this fight he’ll be back working in that fast food chain that he was working at earlier on in his career. It’s retirement for him.
“You’re in denial and you’re getting knocked out. Do yourself a favour and retire, your legacy’s in bits, all the excuses, you’ve been destroyed. No one’s even believed you, everyone’s laughing at you. You’re a weak man.”
Wilder countered that he saw “nervous energy” from his rival, but with tensions approaching boiling point, Fury’s co-promoter Bob Arum ruled that the press conference would not end in the usual staredown.
The first fight between the duo in December 2018 ended in a controversial draw before Fury won the return contest, surprising many observers by taking the attack to Wilder and stopping him in the seventh round.
It marked the first defeat in Wilder’s 44-fight professional career but the Alabaman made a series of bizarre excuses in the aftermath, from the weight of his ring walk costume draining his legs to Fury “cheating”.
Wilder’s coach Mark Breland was dispensed with as punishment for throwing in the towel against Fury, which meant former heavyweight Scott, who was knocked out in the first round by Wilder in March 2014, was brought into the team.
Dressed in a red tracksuit on Wednesday, Wilder said: “I know things for a fact, I have confirmation, clarity of a lot of things. It only made me better as a man, as a fighter. It made me even hungrier than before.
“I wouldn’t take it back, I needed it, it was a blessing in disguise. I am ready to go now. I have dedicated myself, devoted my time and my body, me and my team, reinvented. I am ready to reintroduce myself to the world. There’s no pressure on me. When you have nothing to lose there’s no pressure at all. All the pressure is on him. There is nothing to lose and everything to gain.
“Prepare yourself on the battlefield and get ready for war because this is going to be an amazing fight. As you see, I’m wearing my red outfit so I want to beckon blood and I’m looking forward to it.”
The unbeaten Fury, who chose to stand throughout the press conference, had a dim view when asked to respond to Wilder’s remarks.
“I don’t care because obviously it’s coming from an unwell person. He accused me of everything: His team, his trainer, the suit, injuries, the State Athletic Commission of Nevada, the referee,” said Fury.
“If he’d have come out with one of these excuses, it would have been believable but not 50 of them. He can believe what he wants, what it tells me is that he’s a weak person who I’m going to knock out on Saturday night.”