Boxing News 2016: Heavyweight World Champions Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury Exchange Verbal Tirades
Heavyweight world champions Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury have been going at it, throwing verbal tirades at each other.
"The Bronze Bomber" (36-0, with 35 victories by knockout) fought last January 16 against Polish boxer Arthur Szpilka at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, where he emerged victorious via ninth round knockout. The victory marked Wilder's third title defense since winning the WBC crown in January of the past year.
Fury was present during the said fight, and in a report by Keith Idec for Boxingscene, the British boxer who recently ended Wladimir Klitschko's nine-year title reign went up to the ring to challenge Wilder to a fight. During the post-fight press conference, Wilder says he was not taking Fury that seriously, merely downplaying the latter's antics as a manner of self-promotion.
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He also noted that given the back-and-forth exchanges they have been going through for the last four years, it was time to settle the score inside the ring.
"I feel like it's time to put up or shut up," Wilder said in the press conference, according to Yahoo! Sports. "It's time to get it on."
Wilder adds that he does not mind flying to the UK and fight Fury in his own backyard, noting that he has a relatively huge fan base in the said area.
"It's one thing to talk. It's another thing when you get up in that ring. With Fury, I'm going to have no remorse," Wilder promised.
For Fury's part, he has continued to poke at the undefeated champion through insults. The 27-year-old boxer won the WBO, IBO, IBF and WBA lineal titles from Klitschko via a unanimous decision win last November in Dusseldorf, Germany.
Speaking to Fight Hype, Fury had one promise if the fight between him and Wilder does push through.
"I think Deontay's a [expletive]. If he ever fights the furious one, [he will be] knocked out badly," Fury said. "There's only one [expletive] champion of the world."
Fury (25-0 with 18 wins by knockout), will be facing Klitschko again this year, after the latter opted to exercise the rematch clause that was agreed upon in the pre-fight negotiations.
