LAS VEGAS — The last time Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury were involved in a fight week press conference, heated words were exchanged, and Wilder went viral with his now-infamous “ Til This Day” rant.
Since then, the profiles of both Wilder and Fury have been enhanced. Their Dec. 1, 2018 clash was a memorable one that ended in a controversial split draw. Fury rose from the ashes after a devastating combination sent him to the canvas in the final round in a moment that spread like wildfire across the internet. Wilder went on to collect his 40th and 41st knockouts in devastating fashion against Dominic Breazeale and Luis Ortiz while Fury picked up victories against Tom Schwarz and Otto Wallin to clear the path for the highly anticipated Wilder vs. Fury 2 set for Saturday night.
The giants of the heavyweight division picked up right where they left off at Wednesday’s final press conference at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Any previous indications of a newfound respect for each other was tossed out the window in favor of more heightened tensions between the duo.
Shortly after the WBC champion hit the stage, Fury met his opponent, and the two titans went nose to nose. It didn’t take long for it to dissolve into a shoving match where security had to eventually intervene to bring calm to the situation.
Although the physicality was brought to a halt, the two continued firing insults at each other with the voracity of a deadly knockout combination. Nothing was off-limits as Wilder brought up Fury’s mental health and issues with drugs while Fury suggested that Wilder’s mother should be ranked higher than him in the heavyweight division.
The fact that the rematch takes place during Black History Month isn’t lost on Wilder, who is well aware of the three words that turned him into a viral sensation. And on Saturday, Wilder plans to pick up right where he left off and make Fury an involuntary part of Black History Month.
“They picked the wrong month for this fight to happen,” Wilder told DAZN News. “When I knock ‘The Gypsy Queen’ out, he’ll become a Black History Month trivia question.”
But Fury has no plans to be a part of The Bronze Bomber’s highlight reel and made it clear that he has already survived the best of what Wilder has to offer.
“The ol’ knockdown of the Gypsy King was very active online and all over the world,” Fury said. “But the thing Wilder must be thinking is, 'I hit that guy with my hardest punch in Round 12, and he got up. What do I have to do to keep him down?'
“He could not keep me down in the 12th round, so now I want to see if he is able to get up off the floor. I don’t think he has the guts to get up.”
Although not known as a big puncher, Fury has promised that he plans to end Wilder’s night inside of two rounds and claim the WBC heavyweight title. But the devastating knockout artist simply doesn’t believe that a leopard can change its spots.
“I don’t believe anything Fury says,” Wilder retorted. “I think he is just trying to butter me up and use a lot of mind games. He did that in the first fight to try and steal rounds, so we were lucky that we had experienced judges that weren’t influenced by that. I am not concerned with what I say, I am more focused on what he does. I am a man of action.”
If words were weapons, we'd be assured of a war based on the artillery used at Wednesday's press conference. Interestingly enough, their hands may pack more impact than anything they have said to one another.