Wilder: I’m in a win-win situation
WBC heavyweight champion says the odds are in his favour for his next fight
WORLD BOXING COUNCIL (WBC) heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder says he is in a “win-win situation” following his controversial split decision draw with Britain’s Tyson Fury in Los Angeles on Saturday.
Wilder, who stays unbeaten in 41 contests with 39 knockouts, dropped Fury twice in the ninth and 12th rounds, although Fury controlled a majority of the contest by beating his rival to the punch in most of the other rounds.
Judge Alejandro Rochin scored the fight considerably wide in Wilder’s favour at 115-111, Robert Tapper favoured Fury with 114-112, and British judge Phil Edwards scored a 113-113 draw.
The outcome now gives Wilder two options for 2019 – a rematch with Fury or a fight for the undisputed championship with IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
“I would love to go for the other titles because I’ve always said I want to be one champion, one face, one name,” said the 33-year-old American.
“I always want to unify the division. The heavyweight division is too small to have two champions.
“I feel one champion would make the division more interesting. I’ve been trying to fight Joshua. It’s no secret, but those guys had other plans. I’d love to fight Fury again or go for Joshua. I think I’m in a win-win situation.”
Wilder tried to arrange a fight with Joshua last year when he offered the 29-year-old British heavyweight £50 million, which Joshua’s team turned down, and Fury believes he knows why.
“Joshua didn’t want this fight and he didn’t want it for a reason,” said Fury, who is still undefeated in 28 contests after the draw.
“Because Deontay is the most fearsome puncher in heavyweight history. I saw it and I felt it in the ring. AJ would’ve been nailed with that right hand because he can’t move like me. He got offered a lot of money, money that could’ve made broke countries rich, and he didn’t want it.”
Fury did get mercilessly dropped by a brutal right hand-left hook combination in the final round of his fight with Wilder and lay motionless for a few seconds.
However, he opened his eyes and rose to his feet to see the contest through, much to the amazement of the 17 698 inside the Staples Center.
“How did I get up from the knockdowns? I don’t know,” said Fury.
“I had a holy hand on me tonight that brought me back. I’ve got a good fighting spirit, never say die, and even when I got knocked down heavy in the 12th, I probably won the round.
“Deontay Wilder is one hell of a champion. He showed great heart tonight and he can hit hard as you can see, but he persevered and kept coming all night.”
Wilder was left bemused, not only at Fury’s sheer will to get back on his feet, but also at the time it took to start the 10-count.
“I seen the eyes roll into the back of his head and I’m like, this is over,” said Wilder. “God knows how he got back up. Fury was out and I think they hesitated with the count a little bit.
“I still carried on because I’m a warrior and it was a great fight. We both go home as winners.”
Fury had a two-and-a-half-year break from the sport after winning the heavyweight titles from Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 as he battled problems with suicidal depression, drug abuse and excessive weight gain.
With that in mind, Fury sees this fight as a moral victory.
“I was living like a rockstar,” said Fury, who was in an upbeat mood as he led a chorus of Don McLean’s “American Pie” to members of the media. “I fought back from suicide, mental health, depression and anxiety. I wanted more than anything to show the world it can be done. Anything is possible with the right mindset.
“I was on the brink of suicide, but I came back. I’ll always get back up and fight. I think I’m the first champion to come back and not get destroyed so I think I’ve set a precedent.” |