Deontay Wilder gives some unlikely credit to a former foe as he gears up to return to the ring on October 15.
The knockout artist is training to face an in-form Robert Helenius next month. It will be his first fight in over a year, with him going back and forth over potential retirement in that time.
Before he attempts to re-enter the world title picture, he sat down with SHOWTIME Sport’s The Last Stand to answer some quick-fire questions.
Asked “Usyk, Tyson Fury – Who’s the best heavyweight walking the planet right now?”, Wilder picked his former rival.
“I’ll go with Fury.”
Given his animosity towards the British fighter, both past and present, the credit is surprising. When posed the question of potentially facing off against ‘The Gypsy King’ for a fourth time, Wilder was optimistic.
“Most definitely. As long as he’s in the business and I’m in the business it’s inevitable. Unless him or I doesn’t want it. Or if he can’t be allowed to go a certain place, because there’s a lot of things going on with him right now – I don’t want to discuss it, it ain’t none of my business. If he’s in the business and able to participate in it, of course.”
Wilder and Fury already have a trilogy in the books. Both men managed to drop the other, however it was only Fury who could finish the job. He won the second and third fights by stoppage following a draw in the first.
If he want another shot at Fury, ‘The Bronze Bomber’ must first come through Helenius – no easy night for any heavyweight. Should he do so, he’s rumoured to be matched up with PBC stablemate, Andy Ruiz Jr.