By Charles Brun: Tyson Fury took to social media to give a rebuttal to Deontay Wilder’s remarks about how he thinks he doesn’t want the rematch against him. After failing to beat WBC heavyweight champion Wilder (41-0-1, 40 KOs) last December, Fury is signed to face him on February 22 in a rematch.
Wilder thinks the 31-year-old Fury (29-0-1, 20 KOs) doesn’t fancy the job, and might back out of the fight. Deontay thinks that the way that Fury was upended in the 12th round of their fight has frightened him off from wanting a second fight. Wilder says that even Fury’s family don’t want to see him face him again.
Fury wants to let Wilder know that he’s not trying to back out of their rematch, but unfortunately he doesn’t seem to be buying his tough talk. Wilder wanted an immediate rematch with Fury earlier this year, but the British fighter didn’t want it. Instead of facing Wilder straightaway, Fury took two soft opponents in Tom Schwarz and Otto Wallin in tune-up matches.
Is Fury trying to duck Wilder rematch?
The perception with a lot of boxing fans is Fury is looking for a way to duck the rematch with Wilder. One reason some fans believe this is Fury taking part in a risky WWE match last month on October 31.
Fury has a bad cut from his last fight on September 14 against Ottto Wallin that could have opened up in the WWE match. The cut required 46 stitches to close. Had that cut opened up in Fury’s WWE match, the rematch with Wilder would have likely been delayed. Some fans think Fury will retire rather than taking on Wilder again.
Fury talking part in pretend fighting in professional wrestling obviously has Wilder doubting whether he wants a rematch. It’s easier for Fury to make money in the WWE than it would in stepping inside the ring with Deontay again. That obviously takes courage, especially given what happened to Fury last time he fought Wilder.
Fury denies not wanting to fight Wilder again
“This is to address Deontay Wilder’s recent comments about how I don’t want to fight him, and how afraid of him I am,” said Fury on his Instagram social media site on Wednesday. “If I was afraid of you, I wouldn’t have fought you with three years out of the ring and beat you in your own country. You had to rob me, and give me a draw. So I don’t know why on Earth you would think I’m bothered about you.
“So just get through your fight with [Luis] Ortiz, do your own thing, and stop using my name for relevance. You should be on 20% [purse split], but I’m giving you a fair share because I’m a fair man. I don’t ask for anything in this work, and I work hard for everything. So the thing is for you, Wilder, crack on with your own business, and I’ll see you February 22 to finish what I started. This time you’re going to get smashed, you big bum,” said Fury.
Wilder thinks the referee should have stopped his fight with Fury in the 12th round after he knocked him clean out.