Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder came face-to-face in Saudi Arabia this year for the first time since their thrilling heavyweight trilogy.
To the surprise of many, the meeting was cordial, even friendly, with the American giving his British rival a hug and a few words exchanged. Fury shouted Wilder’s famous catchphrase ‘Bomb Squad’ and that was that.
A few weeks later and back on home soil, Wilder reverse-ferreted on the good vibes, calling Fury a ‘motherf**cker’ and a ‘cheat’, as well as hinting that if the meeting taken place elsewhere it wouldn’t have been so pretty.
Speaking to Boxing Social at a recent media event, Fury reflected on the situation and how Wilder handled it.
“When I met him man to man, his a***hole fell out. He come over and cuddled me, like the little b***h that he is. It was like, all right, it must be done. He’s given me the cuddle, forget about it.”
“Then a week later he goes ‘Tyson’s still a piece of s**t’ this that and the other. I thought you little slimy… Deontay Wilder is Deontay Wilder and that’s it.”
“I’ve beat him three times. I’ve absolutely done his record right in. Give him two knockout losses and a draw which I won anyway. It is what it is. I don’t hate the guy, he’s just a bit of a t***er.”
Wilder has made many unfounded and often downright bizarre claims about Fury gaining an advantage in their fights – an attitude that has soured what’s recognised as a modern-great trilogy.
With the results sitting at a draw and two conclusive wins for Fury, there’s a distinct possibility the pair could run it back a fourth time in the future. Wilder remains the number one ranked heavyweight with the WBC, the sanctioning body in which Fury is currently champion.
Having said that, both are looking elsewhere for now – Fury to Oleksandr Usyk later in the year, and Wilder to Anthony Joshua. Both are expected to have smaller fighters beforehand.