WILDER v FURY: The Presser

Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury got up close and personal for the first time this week at yesterdays press conference. Within minutes, the two fighters were goading one another, which ultimately led a push in front of the world’s media cameras. Perhaps a sign of where the rest of this fight week might be heading…. writes Jordan Neild from Las Vegas.

Fury, who was interestingly sporting sunglasses and kept his hood up, began the taunting by singing his very own rendition of the song “I get knocked down” – predictably trying to remind Wilder of his failure to knock him out last time.

‘The Gypsy King’ spent his time on the microphone largely downplaying the ability and credibility of Deontay Wilder and claimed that the American champion isn’t capable of knocking him out. In fact, he went a step further, by claiming he will be the one who gets the knockout victory.

“So called biggest puncher in history?” blasted an animated Fury. “He couldn’t even keep a man down in the 12th round last time!”

Never one to be spoken down to, Deontay Wilder was quick to fire back with his own insults.

“Don’t buy anything he [Fury] says”

Aiming his insults directly at Fury, he continued.

“You cannot punch. You have got pillows for fists”

As the war of words continued, it didn’t take long for the insults to become substantially harsher and incredibly more personal. Wilder, seemingly annoyed by Fury’s brash talk, decided to take his insults to a whole new level and began to speak about Fury’s very public battle with mental health.

“Don’t you ever forget where I found you – you were strung out on coke. You were huge, like a big house, contemplating killing yourself. Don’t you ever forget who brought you back to big time boxing, I brought you back, dragged you back. I put food on your families table and now I am doing it again for the second time”

Fury did not take the bait that Wilder had laid out, instead, he decided to taunt his arch rival with memories of his short comings in the first fight.

“You fought me the first time because you thought it was an easy fight!” shouted Fury. “Well it wasn’t, I came back and kicked your arse all over!”

Over the course of the press conference, Fury seemed jovial and intent on winning the battle of the mind games, just like the first time in Los Angeles. Wilder, however, stuck to a very serious tone, it seems the man they call ‘The Bronze Bomber’ is in Vegas purely for business.

At times the press conference was light hearted, at times incredibly serious and both men where more than willing to engage in pushing when they came face to face. We are still a couple of days out and with the weigh in scheduled for tomorrow, the fighters will be able to lock eyes once more before the opening bell rings.

It is tough to predict who is winning the battle of the mind games just yet, but one thing is for certain, Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder are both incredibly comfortable in the midst of the Las Vegas madness.

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