Deontay Wilder Wants Third Tyson Fury Fight, Says Legs Weakened by Walkout Costume Before Loss
“I’d rather die in the ring than have the towel thrown in. I’m a warrior.”
Deontay Wilder is reportedly looking to get back into the ring for a third heavyweight championship fight with Tyson Fury in the wake of his decisive loss to “The Gypsy King” on Saturday.
According to Lance Pugmire of The Athletic, Wilder said he will exercise his rematch clause against Fury even though he was soundly defeated via a seventh round technical knockout in the pay-per-view showdown, in which Fury used his size and superior boxing skills to utterly dominate the hard-hitting “Bronze Bomber.”
Pugmire also noted Wilder said the 45-pound, Game of Thrones-style black knight costume he wore on his way into the ring had weakened his legs and sapped his fighting ability.
Full story coming to @TheAthleticBOX shortly: Deontay Wilder @BronzeBomber tells me he is definitely exercising his rematch clause for a summer trilogy against @Tyson_Fury, that his legs were weakened by his 45-pound costume he wore to the ring to honor Black History Month.
— Lance Pugmire (@pugboxing) February 24, 2020
Wilder also suggested assistant trainer Mark Breland could face repercussions for throwing in the towel in the 7th round to save his dazed fighter, who suffered two knockdowns. The Alabama power puncher then criticized referee Kenny Bayliss for letting Fury hit him in the back of the head.
Also told by @BronzeBomber that he is re-evaluating retaining asst. trainer Mark Breland, because his team knew "I'd rather die in the ring than have the towel thrown in. I'm a warrior." Full story coming to @TheAthleticBOX shortly.
— Lance Pugmire (@pugboxing) February 24, 2020
Wilder also has harsh words for referee Kenny Bayless, alleging Bayless declined to effectively confront Fury over a slew of punches to the back of Wilder's head and neck after telling Wilder he would disqualify him if he did the same in pre-fight dressing room.
— Lance Pugmire (@pugboxing) February 24, 2020
“I’d rather die in the ring than have the towel thrown in,” Wilder said while revealing he will re-evaluate whether he will keep Breland, per Pugmire. “I’m a warrior.”
Meanwhile, Sports Illustrated reported a third Fury/Wilder fight would happen by the end of July, while ESPN.com pointed out that “the world appears to be clamoring for a heavyweight unification bout” between Fury and Anthony Joshua, which would crown the first undisputed heavyweight king since Lennox Lewis in 2000, even though Wilder has every right to complete the trilogy.
But first, it looks like it’ll be Wilder/Fury III.