I don’t know exactly why Deontay Wilder refused to answer questions Tuesday at the kick off news conference for his third fight against heavyweight titleholder Tyson Fury on July 24 in Las Vegas. And I don’t care.
I think it’s a good idea.
He said too much after Fury knocked him out in seven rounds in February of last year to win the WBC belt, first claiming that the heavy costume he wore for his ring walk sapped the energy in his legs and then accusing Fury of having loaded gloves.
He made a fool of himself. And he knew it.
Plus, there’s point in talking after taking a brutal beating like the one he took from Fury. You can say you’re going to do this and do that — as fighters tend to do — but the words mean nothing. It’s time for deeds, not bold, generally boring platitudes.
Wilder said as much before the news conference, telling Top Rank’s Crystina Poncher, “The talking is done. It’s time to do business, to put in work.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4e71LPB9kY
Ironically, Wilder’s silence made the news conference, held at a theater in downtown Los Angeles, more interesting than the typical promotional event.
He provided opening comments. He thanked those close to him, including his legal team. That was an obvious reference to the fact an arbitrator spoiled a Fury-Anthony Joshua showdown when he ruled that a rematch clause from Fury-Wilder II was binding.
And he hinted that he wouldn’t be saying much in the five weeks leading up to the fight.
“Look, enough said,” he said. “It’s time to cut off his head. Come July 24 there will be bloodshed.”
That was it. He didn’t say another word.
Poncher, who stood on a dais between the seating fighters, asked Wilder why he selected Malik Scott to replace Mark Breland as his head trainer. Wilder, wearing headphones, didn’t respond. Scott answered for him.
That was the moment it became clear that Wilder would be tight-lipped. Scott was asked about his fighter’s reluctance to speak.
“Well, No. 1 he’s very stubborn even thought he has rededicated his life and everything to his craft,” Scott said. “… Like most legends, like most gifted people, they have their things with them. Even Tyson Fury has his things with him. A lot of people think he’s crazy.
“… As long as Deontay gives me what I want in the gym, as long as he gives me what I ask for, I don’t care about the stubbornness.”
Fury, who walked onto the stage shirtless for effect, was about as upbeat and entertaining as he typically is. However, when he was asked about Wilder’s silence he gave a serious response before slipping back into character and offering to play the role of both fighters, which drew laughs.
“It shows how weak of a mental person he is,” Fury said, “how much the beating from the last fight has taken an emotional and physical [toll] on his life. I was worried about Deontay Wilder for quite a while after the defeat I gave him.
“Obviously, he’s doing the little thing with earphones on and he doesn’t want to answer any questions. That’s up to him. But I’m here to promote a fight, to talk to the press as I always do.”
Fury then got into a back and forth with Scott.
“Wilder is a stubborn person,” Fury said. “He has his own mentality. He wants to do things his own way. To listen to all the people is not what Deontay Wilder does. So no matter how much Malik teaches Deontay, he’s going to do what Deontay is going to do.”
Scot objected to that assertion, saying, “That’s wrong. He’s been doing what I’ve asked him to do.”
Fury responded, “But like Mike Tyson said, ‘Everyone has a game plan until they get punched in the mouth.’”
“But you’re talking about as far as training,” Scott said.
“In the real fight, I’m talking about,” Fury said. “… He’s going to revert straight back to type 100 percent. As soon as he gets hit with one right hand, he’s going to see red and he’s going to think, ‘Right. I’m going to take his head off.’”
Fury went on to predict that he would stop Wilder earlier than he did in the last fight because he’s had more time to prepare, saying, “I’ll run him over as if I’m an 18-wheeler and he’s a human being.”
And the Brit said he wants to bulk up to 300 pounds, which would be 27 more than he weighed for Part 2 of their trilogy, “because I’m looking for a big knockout straight away.”
Soon it was time for the obligatory stare down, which was about as dramatic as it gets. They stood nose to nose for more than 5½ minutes, with only a few chirps from Fury to break the silence until their teams finally surrounded them and they walked off.
The stare down was more intense than any words could’ve been.