Heavyweight boxing star Tyson Fury has pulled no punches when discussing the current state of the division, singling out his former rival Deontay Wilder as a fighter who should have already permanently hung up his gloves.
The man in question is, of course, the American knockout artist Deontay Wilder, a fighter whose legacy will forever be intertwined with Fury following an epic, career-defining trilogy of bouts that culminated in a thrilling conclusion in October 2021. During that third and final encounter, the hard-hitting American gave a tremendous account of himself under the bright lights, showing immense heart and scoring two notable knockdowns against the lineal champion. However, despite his best efforts and trademark power, Wilder ultimately suffered a devastating 11th-round knockout defeat in what proved to be a punishing and gruelling heavyweight war.
Prior to that unforgettable third clash, their second encounter in February 2020 resulted in another punishing, one-sided loss for Wilder, where Fury completely dismantled him to capture the WBC heavyweight title. Ever since that fateful night, the Alabama native has visibly struggled to rediscover the fearsome, destructive form that defined the early days of his career, during which he dominated the division with a remarkable streak of devastating early-round knockouts.
Nevertheless, despite the accumulation of ring wear and tear, the former WBC champion has stubbornly refused to walk away from the sport. After claiming a hard-fought split decision victory over British veteran Derek Chisora in April, Wilder is now gearing up for yet another high-stakes challenge, this time preparing to share the squared circle with cruiserweight standout Jai Opetaia.
The pair are scheduled to square off at Cardiff’s iconic Principality Stadium on December 11, with Opetaia making his much-anticipated debut in the heavyweight division on a massive undercard that will feature Fury facing off against Anthony Joshua. And despite Opetaia moving up significantly from the 200-pound cruiserweight limit to test the waters among the giants, many pundits and observers are actively favouring the former two-time world champion to defeat Wilder. This prevailing sentiment has only been strengthened by Wilder’s performance against Chisora, where despite scoring two knockdowns, the American generally did not seem to possess his once-feared, game-changing power, looking a shadow of the terrifying puncher who once reigned over the division.
Speaking candidly in an interview with boxing journalist Michelle Joy Phelps, Tyson Fury echoed the growing consensus throughout the wider combat sports community. The Briton pulled no punches in assessing his former adversary, stating plainly that the 41-year-old fighter is well past his absolute best and should be nowhere near a boxing ring.
Reflecting on the sad reality of a fighter staying in the sport too long, Fury explained that the decision to keep fighting is ultimately detrimental to Wilder’s long-term health and legacy.
"It’s silly, really, for Deontay’s part. He shouldn’t be in a ring; he should be nowhere near a ring. It’s a dying shame that this man has to continue to fight when he’s shot to bits. He never should’ve fought again after I beat him the last time – that should’ve been the end of it," Fury remarked during the interview with Michelle Joy Phelps.
Fury did not stop there, expanding on his harsh critique by pointing to the visual evidence of Wilder’s recent ring outings. The heavyweight star went on to add that both Wilder and Chisora looked shockingly terrible when they locked horns earlier this year in their domestic-level showdown, failing to showcase the elite-level skills expected of top-tier heavyweights. Furthermore, Fury noted that Wilder’s previous concerning defeats to New Zealand’s Joseph Parker and China’s Zhilei Zhang serve as further proof that the once-feared "Bronze Bomber" is now far removed from his athletic prime.
