After defeating Deontay Wilder for a second time, Tyson Fury called himself the ‘generational fighter,’ before claiming to feel sorry for all of the other heavyweights of his era.
It was a thriller of a bout between Fury and his Alabaman rival in Las Vegas but as was the case when the pair last met 20 months ago, it was the 33-year-old Briton who came out on top. While it was a much closer fight this time around – Wilder knocked Fury down twice in the space of one round – it was the same result as, with Wilder growing wearier by the second, Fury knocked him down for a third and final time in Round 11.
By that stage, both fighters were punch-drunk and they were groggy but as Fury has proven so many times before, it’s when the chips are down when he really comes into his own.
Wilder didn’t take the defeat well though as in a disappointing end to a ferocious and sporting encounter, he refused to shake his conqueror’s hand. Wilder told Fury that he didn’t respect him which prompted the Mancunian to slate his rival in a post-fight interview on Sky Sports.
“We fought like two warriors and I went over to shake his hand and say well done and he was like, no I don’t respect you,” reported Fury.
“How can you say I’ve cheated when you know in your own heart, and your whole team knows that you got beat fair and square, he’s just a sore loser in boxing, I’m sure he’s not the first one and he won’t be the last one”
🗣️ "I went over to shake his hand and say well done and he was like 'No, I don't respect you'."
Tyson Fury revealed the exchange of words after knocking out Deontay Wilder in the 11th round in Las Vegas to defend his WBC heavyweight title. pic.twitter.com/qoOUWYrra2
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) October 10, 2021
“I was very surprised. He’s a sore loser, an idiot,” continued Fury on the same subject on BT Sport.
“To be a top fighting man you’ve got to show guts and respect, and he couldn’t do it tonight. And that was it.”
“He’s got no love for me, Deontay Wilder. Because you know why? I beat him three times.
“I’m a sportsman, I went over to him to show some love and respect and he didn’t want to give it back.
“That’s his problem. I’ll pray for him, so God will soften his heart.”
