Deontay Wilder believes it’s put up or shut up for Tyson Fury
On October 9, the trilogy concludes between WBC heavyweight champion Tyson “Gypsy King” Fury (30-0-1, 21ko) and power-puncher Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (42-1-1, 41ko). However, the former champion from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, believes things will work in his favor, fight or no fight.
The boxing community has been following this drama-filled saga since Wilder was dethroned by a seventh-round stoppage back in February 2020. What followed next was a whirlwind of excuses, accusations, and rescheduling of the fight several times.
WHY HAS THE TRILOGY TAKEN SO LONG?
In 2020, the COVID pandemic locked everything in sports down for the first half of the year. The trilogy fight was kicked back twice before the contractual obligation had expired in December 2020.
In 2021, Team Fury tried to move on with a mega showdown with unified champion Anthony “AJ” Joshua in a fight that would have crowned the first-ever undisputed champion of the four-belt era. However, Team Wilder filed for a third-party arbitrator to hear the case to decide whether Fury still had to follow through with the trilogy. Wilder won the arbitration, and everything shifted from undisputed to a third and hopefully final fight between the two fighters.
WILDER CONFIDENT FIGHT DELAYS HELPED HIM BE A BETTER FIGHTER
By now, everyone knows what has happened. In case you missed it, here is the cliff notes version. The WBC champion had to pull out of the scheduled July 24 bout after testing positive for COVID. He was immediately under severe scrutiny after pictures surfaced on social media of the WBC champion hanging out with fans. Nonetheless, the fight is set for October, and some inside the boxing community are wondering whether the Gypsy King pull out again.
During an interview with 78sports TV, the Bronze Bomber expressed that, at this point, everything is in his favor.
“We’ll, see if this coward gets in the ring…..If he don’t show up, he is going to have to suffer the consequences, and penalties that has been set forth. If he don’t fight, then pay me what you’re supposed to pay me, and then you’ll have to give up that belt, as well. So it’s a win-win situation for me, and it’s a lose-lose situation for him.”
Wilder also added that all this time off has worked to his advantage as he believes his skills have improved.
“One thing for sure, the longer they give me time, the better and better I become. They had their greatest chance back in July. At this point, now there is no stopping me.”
By: Garrisson Bland
