Tyson Fury is unbeaten in 34 fights, and has made his mark on the sport by dethroning two long-reigning heavyweight champions in Wladimir Klitschko and Deontay Wilder.
It’s the latter who he believes posed the biggest threat to his perfect record in the ring.
Fury and Wilder have fought three times in what will go down as one of the most exciting trilogies of this era – and the WBC Heavyweight champion told Foxify that the American has gained his respect as his most formidable opponent so far.
“I would say my most formidable opponent was Deontay Wilder. I had three fights with that guy and three times it could have been curtains for me at any single second.
Deontay Wilder has dynamite in his fists and if he lands on you, whether it’s round 1 or 12, he’s going to knock you down or knock you out.
He had 44 fights unbeaten with 43 by knockout and the guy he went the distance with he knocked him out in the rematch. So he knocked every single person out that he ever fought apart from me. So he’s definitely my most formidable opponent.”
‘The Gypsy King’ knows all to well the threat of Wilder’s shots. He was dropped in their first contest in the final round, apparently out for the count before an incredible rise from the canvas to finish the fight on a contentious draw.
He put Wilder away in the seventh round of their second fight in his best performance of the trilogy, and won the third by stoppage too, but only after hitting the deck twice himself in the fourth round.
The pair had a reunion of sorts in Saudi Arabia recently – all cordial despite the bad blood that’s developed over their three fights stemming from Wilder’s inability to accept his losses.
There has been talk of a fourth fight, but whilst it would undoubtedly be entertaining, fans of Fury want to see him in with Oleksandr Usyk to crown an undisputed champion in the division. Negotiations are ongoing.