Deontay Wilder finally answered, almost two weeks on from that now infamous Los Angeles press conference for his third meeting with Tyson Fury.
Wilder spent most of that afternoon wearing headphones and refusing to speak to media, leaving Fury to do the talking. Tyson, not surprisingly, saw that day’s events as proof that rematch win over Deontay in February 2020 had left a mental mark on his opponent.
Fury (30-0-1), among other things, said: “What I am going to do this time is to run him over like I’m an 18-wheeler (truck) and he is a human being.”
Whether he heard the comment that day or not, headphones or not, Wilder (42-1-1) has definitely heard it since and proof came in a short social media video he released late on Monday.
Wilder hits back at Fury ‘truck’ jibe
It showed ‘The Bronze Bomber’ in a gym lifting weights, surrounding by his cheering team. That was followed by a retort to that Fury truck comment.
You say you’re a semi truck but I’m a freight train. Better get your weight up @Tyson_Fury. #FuryWilder3 #July24 pic.twitter.com/EBM8CSI4RD
— Deontay Wilder (@BronzeBomber) June 29, 2021
The post carried the caption: “You say you’re a semi truck but I’m a freight train. Better get your weight up @Tyson_Fury. #FuryWilder3 #July24”.
The weight of course was a significant sub-plot to that rematch win for Fury over Wilder in 2020. Tyson came in 17lbs heavier than he had for their first meeting at 273lbs. And a heavier, more aggressive ‘Gypsy King’ just steamrollered the 35-year-old American to hand him a first professional defeat.
Wilder himself had come in heavier than ever for that fight at 231lbs (16st 7lbs), but he was exactly three stones (42lbs) lighter than Fury. A difference that definitely appeared to tell on the night.
During that L.A. presser on June 15 Fury said he was looking to builk up to 300lbs for their July 24 trilogy fight in Las Vegas. It was most likely mind games to plant another seed in Wilder’s head. Looking at this latest Wilder video, maybe the seed took hold.
Wilder still a big threat
Wilder is a clear underdog for July 24, but just like everybody else the odds show he has a very definite puncher’s chance – he remains one of the hardest hitters in heavyweight history. As he himself says, he only needs to be good for two seconds.
For Fury the fight comes with huge risk – if he comes through successfully then the drums will once again beat for a unification match with fellow Brit Anthony Joshua. Assuming AJ of course disposes of Oleksandr Usyk on Septmber 25.
