Tyson Fury – ‘Deontay Wilder is nervous, he wanted me to hit him’

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TYSON FURY has accused Deontay Wilder of trying to find a route out of Saturday night’s WBC heavyweight title showdown at the Los Angeles Staples Center.

The pair traded barbs at yesterday’s heated press conference as Wilder’s agitation grew. Even behind the scenes afterwards, the champion remained on edge.

“I think Wilder’s nervous,” Fury said, wearing a suit minus the shirt he had removed during the melee. “He felt he needed to scream and shout and make threats.”

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“We’re fighting men but he had his big team there and there was me and Ben [Davison, his trainer] on our own. We’re not afraid of anyone, if you want to fight on the street or the stage that’s fine, but we’re here to do a job for sport and be professional.

“I believe Wilder wanted me to aim the left hook so that the fight would be cancelled. He wanted to trick me into hitting him so that he could get out of the fight. I’m not going to make that mistake; I’m not going to lose my purse.

“He knows he can’t win and it’s clear for everyone to see now. He’s a very nervous character and by the looks of it he doesn’t want to fight. He talks a good game, but he talks nonsense really.

“He wanted me to get a massive fine but I’m not that stupid. He’s rattled and he knows he’s getting an ass kicking.”

Opinion on the winner seems to be changing as fight week progresses.

Wilder started out as a clear favourite yet Fury – despite not fighting at the top level for three years – is starting to persuade plenty of observers that he has what it takes to claim the title.

Whatever happens, Fury intends to stick around in the sport.

“If I can’t beat Deontay Wilder then I’m not very good, simple as that,” Fury said.

“I won’t retire [if I lose] but if I can beat Wilder I’m not the man I think I am. If I can still count it as a loss. If I win a close fight I’ll class it as a loss because it’s not enough for me.

“How are you going to be considered a great if you can’t beat a bum who throws windmills? As a man who studies boxing I can see all the mistakes he makes.”