Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury
- What: WBC world heavyweight boxing title bout
- When: Sunday 2 December (for UK fight fans)
- Where: Staples Centre, Los Angeles, USA
- Fight start time: 4am to 5am (UK time)
- TV channel: live on BT Sport Box Office
It all got a little heated between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder at the final press conference before their title fight in Los Angeles.
The world’s boxing media packed into the hall last night to hear what the fighters had to say and see the customary “face-off”. The BBC reports that the news conference “descended into chaos” as Fury and WBC champion Wilder “clashed on stage”.
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Accusing Wilder of being a fraud, Fury took his shirt off as insults were exchanged. Speaking to the BBC Sport’s Mike Costello, Fury said: “I took my shirt off to get involved and frightened them all away. Everyone thinks the rivalry is fake but they can guess again as it nearly went off again.
“Wilder thought he needed to spit in my face or whatever he was doing, shouting. He feels pressured, you can see the pressure he is under out there.”
Quoted by Sky Sports, Fury added: “Deontay Wilder needed to do something so he started getting in my face. I believe he wanted me to hit today so he could get out of the fight, or get me a massive fine. But I was not going to do that.
“It was a just a load of rubbish really. I’m quite disappointed that it had to come to that sort of stuff, those tactics, at such a high level.”
BBC Radio 5 live’s boxing analyst Steve Bunce said that Wilder “lost it” during the fiery press conference. “We’ve seen it before but I’m telling you now, you’ve never seen it with that much edge and nastiness,” said Bunce. “Let’s get this straight, Wilder lost it.”
‘I will knock Tyson Fury out’
During the press conference Wilder said he is confident the WBC belt will remain in his hands after Sunday’s fight at the Staples Centre in LA.
Wilder said: “This is a moment I’ve been waiting for my entire career; this is my time. Fury had his - when he beat [Wladimir] Klitschko that was his window to do whatever he had to do. How he took upon his responsibilities as a champion was up to him. But now it’s my time. I’ve sat patiently, waiting.
“I will knock Tyson Fury out. They say I’m the puncher and he’s the boxer, but the same thing was said when I beat [Bermane] Stiverne. I’m going to show you how well I can box. He will go down.”
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