Skip Bayless built a career on his willingness to form an opinion and incessantly stick by that opinion — no matter how wrong or misguided it may be over time.
That even applies to something as minuscule as an incorrect sports prediction.
Ahead of Saturday’s heavyweight championship rematch between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury, Bayless made the pre-fight prediction of Wilder winning by knockout. It was a totally reasonable stance to take, considering Wilder’s track record as a knockout specialist. And Bayless clearly thought that Wilder would be in position to finish off the job from 2018’s near-knockout in the first meeting’s draw.
Wilder by KO. Unfinished business. Real raw anger.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) February 23, 2020
But it became increasingly clear as the fight unfolded that Wilder was in huge trouble. He was bleeding from the ear, wobbly on the legs and lost his equilibrium. Bayless didn’t care. Just in hopes of defending his bad sports prediction, Bayless tweeted through it. He wanted Wilder to remain in the fight because he nearly knocked Fury out in the 12th round of the first fight.
I have little doubt Fury was going to win this fight, but wish Wilder's corner hadn't thrown in the towel. Remember how Fury rose from the canvas in R12 of the first fight. Obviously, he wasn't hurt as badly as Wilder was this time. But … he deserved the rest of the round.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) February 23, 2020
Then, it got gross.
Bayless doubted whether Wilder was even hurt. According to Bayless, the fact that Wilder wasn’t immediately rushed to the hospital meant that Wilder deserved to continue fighting … despite losing the ability to manufacture his KO power and defend himself against Fury.
As lost and battered as Wilder looked, I still say … the towel should not have been thrown in. Not quite yet. His M.O. is throwing lethal rights out of nowhere. He deserved the rest of the round to try to land just one on a Fury who's capable of getting overconfident.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) February 23, 2020
There was even the always-responsible take prefaced by “I’m not his doctor.”
Obviously, Wilder's corner didn't want to see him get badly hurt, or worse. But it's not like he got rushed to the hospital. He's sitting in his locker room getting some treatment on his ear. I'm not his doctor, but he doesn't look "badly hurt."
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) February 23, 2020
Bayless still stood by the take even as Wilder was taken to the hospital.
OK, now they're saying Wilder will go to the hospital to get checked out. Maybe he's worse off than I was guessing. This was obviously the first time in his career he took any kind of a beating. We'll see what the tests show.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) February 23, 2020
Just in 2019, there were four recorded deaths from professional boxing matches. And according to CNN, there’s an average of 13 annual deaths sustained from boxing-related injuries. Wilder’s corner recognized that their fighter was approaching dangerous territory and made the professional decision to stop the fight — it honestly could have stopped rounds earlier.
Bayless essentially rooted against (and then speculated about) Wilder’s health just so he could be right about something on Twitter. It was Bayless at his worst.
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