By Tim Royner: Promoter Frank Warren doesn’t think much of Deontay Wilder’s comments in the aftermath of his crushing defeat at the hands of Tyson Fury last February. Wilder didn’t want to take the high road in a recent interview by giving Fury full credit for his seventh-round knockout victory on February 22.
Instead of giving Fury credit, Wilder said that he doesn’t view him as a ‘real champion.’ Wilder then added that he had a bicep injury that he recently had surgery on. The bicep problem is from the Fury fight. Warren sees Wilder’s excuses as “pathetic” and silly.
In hindsight, Wilder (42-1-1, 41 KOs) should have kept silent about his views, and focus on winning his contractually mandated third fight with Fury.
Fury should be the one complaining
“It’s just pathetic to be coming up with ridiculous excuses,” said Warren to IFL TV on Wilder’s recent comment about Tyson Fury not being a real champion. “If you get beat, you get beat. If anyone that should be complaining, it should be Tyson Fury. In the first fight, he got robbed.
“Let’s be honest. Of those two fights, there’s only one debate. Tyson Fury got robbed. In the second fight, he took him to school in every department. He outboxed him, he outgained him, out-punched him. If he wants the third fight, then let’s get it on, and he can prove his point in the ring.
Before the fight, he didn’t complain about an injury,” said Warren about Wilder, stating that he suffered a bicep injury. “He said he trained really well for the fight. I’m surprised by Deontay.”
Fury and Wilder fought to a 12 round draw in their first fight in 2018. There are still many boxing fans who feel that Fury got a lousy deal with the way the match was scored, but the judges were swayed by the two knockdowns Wilder scored.
Wilder muddied the water with his talk of having a bicep injury. Since saying that, a lot of boxing fans are questioning whether Fury would have been able to beat him if he were healthy.
Tyson contractually committed to third Wilder fight
“It’s not coming from us because we’ve got a contractual commitment,” said Warren in addressing the step aside talk. “Tyson is contractually committed to box a third fight, the rematch with Deontay, and that’s it. Unless that takes place, that’s what we’re going to focus on. It’s all moot.
‘Who knows when we’re going to get out the year because it’s all about what goes on in Vegas. The fight is taking place in the States, and Vegas is the most appropriate place. At the moment, boxing is banned there and knows when it’ll be lifted. It’s certainly not a fight that can go behind closed doors.
“Impossible, not for the money the boxers want. It’s an impossibility,” said Warren when asked if it’s possible Fury vs. Wilder 3 could end up behind closed doors. And it’s not financially possible for that to happen.
“When we get the green light, we’re going to hit the ground running,” said Warren about the government eventually letting boxing resume.
It’s Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn, who has talked a lot of Wilder stepping aside. He wants Wilder to let the big British clash between Joshua and Fury take place this year. If Wilder agreed to that, he could fight for the world title in 2021.