Wilder-Fury II – Syndication Server

Tyson Fury dismisses as ‘sad’ Deontay Wilder’s contention that Fury’s not champ

Tyson Fury dismissed Deontay Wilder’s contention that Fury isn’t a heavyweight champion as “sad.”

Tyson Fury responded to Deontay Wilder’s contention that Tyson Fury isn’t a heavyweight titleholder by calling the comment “sad.”

Wilder said on The PBC Podcast that he doesn’t recognize Fury as the heavyweight champion because they still have unfinished business even though Fury took his belt by a seventh-round knockout on Feb. 22.

They are scheduled to fight a third time before the end of the year, although the exact date is unclear in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s not over,” said Wilder, who drew with Fury in their first fight. “In my eyes I don’t see Fury as champion. It’s still going. He ain’t champion yet. We still have got one more fight left.”

Fury responded on Instagram. He wrote: “Keep letting yourself down @bronzebomber it’s sad, It was you I smashed that’s the truth. Just admit it and move on, it’s just a fight you win some you lose some that’s boxing pal.”

Wilder was criticized for blaming the loss on the costume he wore into the ring, which he said weakened his legs. On the podcast, Wilder said he simply wasn’t himself.

“People that know boxing know that it wasn’t Deontay Wilder that night,” he said. “I was a zombie that night.”

Frank Warren calls Tyson Fury floppy glove theory ‘just pathetic’

Frank Warren, Tyson Fury’s co-promoter, called the notion that Fury’s gloves were doctored for his rematch with Deontay Wilder ‘pathetic.’

Frank Warren, Tyson Fury’s co-promoter, apparently has had enough of the floppy glove theory.

Some people believe that Fury’s left fist somehow slipped down to the wrist portion of the glove for his rematch with Deontay Wilder in February, which, in effect, allowed him to punch Wilder without padding.

Warren, speaking to The Daily Express, dismissed that notion.

“When they wrap their hands the people who are there are obviously Tyson’s camp, his trainer and the guy who is wrapping his hands,” Warren said. “You’ve got someone from local from the commission.

“In the background, you’ve got the drug testing guys who are with you all the time plus there is someone from the other camp watching and inspecting to make sure they are happy with the way the hands are wrapped. That’s why someone from Tyson’s camp was in Wilder’s dressing room.

“Then they warm up. When it comes to putting the gloves on they put the gloves on, the commissioner signs the gloves on the tape and in the case of the last fight there was someone from the camp there.

“So once those hands are in that glove how on earth can you move your hand? It’s impossible. It’s stupid. I don’t know what planet they are on to come up with stuff like that. I’ve seen the footage and all it is an open glove.

“It’s just pathetic. The best man won on the night end of story. No excuses, nothing about costumes or whatever else. On the night the best man won.”

Fury put Wilder down twice and stopped him in seven rounds to win a heavyweight title Feb. 22 in Las Vegas.

Paulie Malignaggi: Deontay Wilder’s handlers should be honest with him

Paulie Malignaggi says Deontay Wilder tried to get him ousted from his commentating gig at Showtime after the first fight with Tyson Fury…

Paulie Malignaggi is widely regarded as one of the sharpest and most perceptive commentators in boxing. Those qualities almost got him into trouble one time, he says.

The former two-division titleholder recently appeared on the SiriusXM boxing show to talk about Deontay Wilder’s excuses after his surprising stoppage loss to Tyson Fury in their rematch Feb. 22 in Las Vegas. Malignaggi explained how Wilder’s excuse-making has been an ongoing pattern stretching back to the first fight with Fury in 2019, which ended up as a disputed draw. Many observers felt Fury outboxed Wilder, who nevertheless managed to score two knockdowns.

“Here’s the problem I have, and this is I think where Deontay’s had a problem in the last couple years,” Malignaggi said. “Nobody around him is honest anymore, in my opinion. OK? Because when you say certain things publicly, you’ve already said them in your circle. … So, starting from the first Fury fight, somebody [should have] been like, ‘Yo, player, you didn’t win that fight. We got away with it.’ Just run with it and say, ‘Yo, I’m gonna make this even better the next time. I got the knockdowns.’ Say you even feel like the result wasn’t a robbery. But don’t go saying like people were out of their minds to think you lost the first fight, when you got out-classed in the first fight.”

Malignaggi and unofficial judge Steve Farhood worked the first Fury-Wilder fight for Showtime. Both of them believed Fury outclassed Wilder, with Malignaggi going so far as to call the draw a “robbery” against Fury. Farhood scored it 115-111 in favor of Fury. Those opinions, according to Malignaggi, weren’t well received by Wilder, who he claims attempted to get both on-air talents booted from the network.

“That was my issue with the whole thing,” Malignaggi said. “(Wilder) tried to get me fired from Showtime and all this other stuff. You know? He was trying to have me and Farhood removed and all this other stuff.”

Malignaggi believes Wilder misunderstood the point of the criticism. He was merely suggesting the fighter shore up some of the more glaring weaknesses in his game.

“So I have sort of an issue with that, because I don’t have an issue with you being competitive and you even not liking the criticism,” Malignaggi continued. “I don’t have an issue with that, because you are not supposed to accept that that easily. But when it’s constructive … when you calm down, you have to be able to understand the difference between constructive criticism and hating criticism. You know? And so, you have to be able to take the constructive criticism and build yourself and get better.”

Malignaggi feels Wilder failed to make the requisite adjustments for the rematch, in which he was unable to cope with Fury’s aggressive tactics. Fury scored two knockdowns before referee Kenny Bayless stopped the bout in the seventh round.

Among Wilder’s excuses afterward was a doozy: He claimed that the 40-pound costume he wore during his ring walk had weakened his legs, which drew a great deal of ridicule. Too many sycophants, Malignaggi said, in Wilder’s corner.

“If everybody’s just agreeing with you, a bunch of yes men, you start to lose track of reality,” Malignaggi said. “And I feel like Deontay putting out that excuse is just another sign, another clue, to say there’s too many yes men around this guy. Because somebody in his team should’ve been like, ‘Yo, you are gonna look like an idiot if you put that out there. Don’t say that.’ Just say, ‘Yo, we got the rematch clause. I’m gonna run it back, and I’ll make this right.’

“Don’t say it was the outfit, though. Don’t go with the outfit.”

Fury and Wilder are expected to meet for a third time on July 18 in Las Vegas.

Tyson Fury: Two more fights and then ‘sail into sunset’

Heavyweight champion Tyson Fury said he’d like to fight two more times and then call it a career.

The last leg in a trilogy is already set and another trilogy is already envisioned. Everybody is making plans for Tyson Fury

But Fury isn’t planning on anything beyond two more fights.

Retirement, he says, is an option.

“Hopefully, I’ll have two more fights and then sail into the sunset,” Fury told the U.K.’s Metro Wednesday.

Fury has two more fights left on his contract with ESPN. One, a third fight with Deontay Wilder, is tentatively scheduled for July 18 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand. If Fury wins that one, the presumption is that he will move on to an all-U.K. showdown with Anthony Joshua. Joshua, of course, also has to win in a mandatory title defense against Kubrat Pulev on June 20.

But their respective promoters are already acting as though victories by both are a given. Preliminary talks are underway for a Fury-Joshua showdown at the end of the year.

In Fury-Joshua, Eddie Hearn foresees a potential trilogy, which from the promotional side represents three bites at the financial apple.

But Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, hasn’t consulted Fury.

“Yes, I got two more fights left,’’ Fury said.

Then, he said, it’s time to “think about what we’re going to do from there.’’

Fury compared his career to a piece of string. It’s not limitless, he said.

“How long’s a piece a piece of string?’’ he asked. “I’m undefeated from 31 fights and been a professional for 12 years.’’

Those close to Fury have already said they would like to see the heavyweight champion retire. His father, John Fury, said after the younger Fury’s stunning seventh-round stoppage of Wilder on Feb. 22, also at the MGM Grand, that he wants his son to retire now.

His wife, Paris, told the U.K.’s Mirror that she wants him to retire after a fight against Joshua.

Tyson Fury’s father: I want my son to retire now

Deontay Wilder formally exercises right to third fight with Tyson Fury

Deontay Wilder has formally exercised the rematch clause for a third fight with Tyson Fury, according to multiple reports.

It’s official.

Deontay Wilder has formally exercised the rematch clause for a third fight with Tyson Fury, according to multiple reports.

Top Rank President Todd duBoef confirmed to Yahoo! Sports that Wilder exercised the clause Friday. Fury is tied to Top Rank.

The move was no surprise. At the news conference after Fury’s stunning seventh-round stoppage of Wilder nine days ago at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand, trainer Jay Deas and manager Shelly Finkel said there would be an immediate third fight.

Last week, Fury co-promoter Frank Warren and Anthony Joshua promoter Eddie Hearn urged Wilder to step aside for a price. That might have led to a Joshua-Fury showdown in the U.K. for the undisputed title later this year. But their pleas fell on deaf ears. Wilder has other ideas.

He wants to avenge an embarrassing performance, which ended with assistant trainer Mark Breland throwing in the towel. A couple of days later, Wilder blamed a heavy costume for weakening his legs in his walk to the ring

According to the contract, the third leg in the trilogy will happen sometime in July.

Meanwhile, Joshua is expected to fight Kubrat Pulev in a mandatory title defense June 20 in London. On Friday, the deal was still not done. Maybe Hearn was waiting on Wilder’s decision. Now that Wilder’s move is official, Joshua-Pulev might soon be too.

Costume did it? Deontay Wilder says weight of get-up weakened legs

Deontay Wilder not wavering on third fight with Tyson Fury

Deontay Wilder evidently still wants an immediate third fight with Tyson Fury despite a call from U.K. promoters for him to step aside..

Deontay Wilder continues to talk as though he wants an immediate third fight with Tyson Fury despite a call from U.K. promoters and fans for him to take the money, step aside and make way for a Fury showdown with Anthony Joshua.

But Wilder said on social media he isn’t going anywhere.

“Hello my people, my Bomb Squad army, my Bomb Squad nation, to all my loved ones around the world,’’ Wilder said in a video message late this week, just days after his devastating seventh-round TKO loss to Fury. “I just want to let you know I am here. Your king is here and we ain’t going nowhere, for the war has just begun. I will rise again. I am strong. I am a king, you can’t take my pride. I am a warrior. I am a king that will never give up. I’m a king that will fight to the death.

🤴🏿 pic.twitter.com/nanMke2BqQ

— Deontay Wilder (@BronzeBomber) February 29, 2020

“And if anyone don’t understand that, don’t understand what it is to go to war, don’t understand what it is to fight, we will rise again. We will regain the title. I will be back. We will hold our heads up high. Your king is in great spirits. We will rise like a phoenix from the ashes and regain the title. I’ll see you in a few months, for the war has just begun. All my love to all my people.”

Wilder has already said he would exercise a contract clause for a third fight. But Fury co-promoter Frank Warren and Joshua promoter Eddie Hearn hope there’s enough money to convince him to step aside.

However, Fury’s American promoter Bob Arum is already talking about a Fury-Wilder rematch in July. Arum has also floated the idea of doing a third fight at the Las Vegas Raiders’ new home, Allegiant Stadium. Construction is expected to be done on July 31.

Meanwhile, Hearn is moving forward on plans for Joshua to make a mandatory title defense against Kubrat Pulev on June 20 in London. However, that deal still is not done. It’s been under discussion for several weeks.

“If they do rematch, I just hope they stick to the contract date of July because we want this fight in 2020 and no later,’’ Hearn told the New York Post. “We’ll fight our mandatory in June, and we’ll sign to fight the winner now. But we don’t want to wait beyond 2020. Seize the moment.”

Anthony Joshua vs. Kubrat Pulev set for June 20 in London

Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder PPV number lower than expected due to theft: report

The Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder pay-per-view buy rate was disappointing in part, experts say, because of theft.

The heavyweight title fight between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder reportedly generated disappointing pay-per-view numbers. And there appears to be a specific reason.

The fight did between 800,000 and 850,000, well below the reported “break-even” number of 1.2 million.

That is the result, at least in part, of theft, according to a report on Yahoo! Sports.

Sources told the outlet that digital sales did well but cable and satellite did not, which took a bit out of the overall buy rate. Thieves evidently stole the signal. According to VFT Solutions, which tracks signal piracy, there were between 20 million and 30 million views on either social media platforms or video on demand. Many bars and restaurants also provided the fight illegally, according to the report.

Wayne Lonstein, a spokesperson for VFT Solutions, told Yahoo! Sports that one possible remedy is reaching out directly to those who view events illegally.

“Millions of people are self-identifying as, ‘Hey, we want to see this fight,’” he told Yahoo! Sports. “When you get into the millions, there is opportunity here [to sell them the signal legally]. The social demand and social consumption is so great that we are and have been working with a lot of content owners to actually move people. We can insert live messages into the chat stream and we get thousands of clicks to where we want to send them. It’s a nascent technology … but there is a lot of opportunity there.”

Lonstein went on: “You’ve heard people for years saying boxing is dead, but if you really look at this and do an analysis, people are hungry for the content. The product is becoming compelling and there is interest in it, no question. There is an astounding opportunity [to convert some of those signal thieves into buyers], but it’s a major issue, and it’s just getting bigger.”

The first Fury-Wilder fight, in December 2018, did roughly 300,000 buys.

Deontay Wilder reportedly retaining trainer Mark Breland

Deontay Wilder was upset that trainer Mark Breland threw in the towel in the Tyson Fury fight but has decided to retain him.

Deontay Wilder reportedly is sticking with Mark Breland.

Breland, the former heavyweight titleholder’s longtime co-trainer, irked Wilder when he threw in the towel to save the fighter from taking further punishment from Tyson Fury in their rematch on Feb. 22 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Wilder was taking punches with his back to a corner in the seventh round when referee Kenny Bayless, heeding Breland’s wishes, waved off the fight.

Afterward, Wilder insisted that he and his team members had an understanding that no fight of his would be stopped in such a fashion, in part because he can end any bout with one punch. Hence, he was frustrated after Breland’s actions.

In the end, though, he understands where Breland’s heart was. He sent ESPN a statement before he left for a trip to Africa explaining his position.

“I’m a warrior,” he said. “I feel the same way I felt on fight night – if I have to go out, I want to go out on my shield. But I understand that my corner and my team has my best interest at heart. Mark Breland is still a part of Team Wilder and our team looks forward to preparing for the [trilogy fight].”

Wilder has made it clear that he intends to demand a third fight with Fury, as per their contract for the rematch.

The contract reportedly stipulates that the rematch must take place before July 18 but, according to ESPN, Bob Arum, Fury’s co-promoter, said the new champ would be willing to give Wilder more time if necessary.

The rematch, which was heavily marketed, generated between 800,000 and 850,000 pay-per-view buys in the United States, according to reports. That’s the highest number for a heavyweight fight since Lennox Lewis vs. Mike Tyson drew 1.99 million in 2002 but well below some of the biggest lower-weight fights in recent years.

Ben Davison: ‘What’s most important to me is Tyson (Fury) being victorious

Ben Davison moves on to Josh Taylor’s corner without regrets that he wasn’t there for Tyson Fury’s stunning victory over Deontay Wilder.

Ben Davison moves on to Josh Taylor’s corner without regrets that he wasn’t there for Tyson Fury’s stunning seventh-round stoppage of Deontay Wilder.

In a business known for acrimonious splits between trainers and fighters, Davison almost stands alone.

He’s just happy that a friend won.

“What’s most important to me is Tyson being victorious,” Davison told talkSPORT. “I’ve got many years in this sport.’’

Those years continue with Taylor, the junior welterweight champion who announced Thursday that Davison will be his new trainer for a mandatory defense against Apinum Khongsong on May 2.

Taylor, who holds two 140-pound belts, is coming off a contentious split with trainer Shane McGuigan after his jump from Barry McGuigan’s Cyclone Promotions to Top Rank.

But there was no anger from Davison at Fury’s decision to hire SugarHill Steward, who added the aggressive tactics long taught by his late mentor and uncle, Emanuel Steward, to Fury’s skillset.

“Tyson had said to me he wanted to adopt a more aggressive approach,’’ said Davison, who was in Fury’s corner for their draw with Wilder in their fist fight in December 2018. “It proved to be the right decision for him and obviously I wanted him to be victorious more than anything.

“So, as well as a coach and fighter relationship, we had a friendship that was more than anything else. I wanted him to win. And if that meant I was going to be there and – put bluntly – if it meant that I wasn’t going to gain from it financially, that doesn’t matter.’’

A more aggressive Fury in the early rounds against Wilder in the heavyweight rematch Feb. 22 proved to be brilliant. It confused Wilder. Fury was on top of him immediately, which eliminated the space Wilder needs for the leverage to set up his feared right hand.

“Tyson had actually said to me quite a while ago that he wanted to start fast and start hard against Deontay Wilder,’’ Davison said. “But he actually said it to me and I said to him, ‘There are a couple of ways you can go about it. You can Hagler-Hearns on him or you can Sugar Ray Leonard-Hearns him.’’

Turns out, he did a lot of both.

Tyson Fury beats the heavyweight title out of Deontay Wilder

Does Deontay Wilder comment on 2018 podcast debunk costume excuse?

After blaming a 40-pound costume for his loss to Tyson Fury, a video surfaced of Deontay Wilder saying he trains in 45-pound vests.

Deontay Wilder’s costume continues to look like a way to dress up an excuse.

A few days after blaming a 40-pound suit of nuts, bolts, batteries and armor for his loss to Tyson Fury, a video surfaces of him talking about how he trains in vests that weigh about 45 pounds, give or take a battery.

“We want to activate the fast-twitch muscles,” Wilder said on the The Joe Rogan Experience podcast on Dec. 10, 2018. “We do everything with rapid speed. If I’m doing anything that consists of me moving my feet, it’s sprinting.

“Now, I wear a 45-pound vest on me as well as doing all my exercises and everything that I do to have that extra weight on me.”

But that extra weight, minus about five pounds, was apparently too much for Wilder in the dressing room, the walk to the ring and up the steps.

It left him, he said, with weakened legs and vulnerable to the bigger Fury, whose two hands landed like 40 pounds each in dropping Wilder twice, in the third round and again in the fifth at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand. In a timely act of mercy, assistant trainer Mark Breland threw in the towel in the seventh.

“He didn’t hurt me at all, but the simple fact is that my uniform was way too heavy for me,’’ Wilder said a couple of days after his first loss. “I didn’t have no legs from the beginning of the fight. In the third round, my legs were just shot all the way through.”

Message to Wilder: Get rid of the suit. Get rid of the excuse. There’s no costume that can disguise it anymore.