Fury: This is war of honour

TYSON FURY is refusing to turn his heavyweight showdown with Deontay Wilder into a race row.

The pair clashed at an explosive press conference on Wednesday in Downtown LA.

African American Wilder was angered by Fury’s claim that he is not from fighting stock.

But Wilder, from Alabama in the Deep South of the US, hit back by saying his people have been fighting prejudice for “400 years”.

‘Gypsy King’ Fury refused to bite back, though, and said: “I don’t think we should make this a battle of race or culture.

“This is above all that. We’re fighting for the most gentlemanly prize, the heavyweight championship of the world.

“I know it wasn’t gentleman like up there, but I didn’t instigate it, I

from CHRIS McKENNA in LA

didn’t get up there to start screaming in his face.

“My people have been persecuted for thousands of years but we’re not going to go there.

“This isn’t a battle of who has been persecuted longer, its Fury against Wilder.”

Fury was more than happy to dismiss Wilder’s credentials inside the ring, despite the Bronze Bomber’s impressive record of 39 knockouts from 40 wins.

“He’s going to look like the clown he is,” said the Brit.

“He’s got no technique and he can’t do any more. You’re going to see a different Wilder, he has never fought a beast like me. He punches hard but he didn’t fight anyone until he’d had 30 fights.

“You can only knock out who’s in front of you, but if you’re matched easily, you get to 100-0.

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“People are afraid before they get in there, like with Mike Tyson – they were just looking for a comfy place on the canvas.

“I’m not, I’m looking for one for him and I will nail him and drop him like a tree.

“It’s a fight, I don’t care about getting punched in the face. I’ve been hurt, I’ve pulled fights out of the bag before.”

Fury’s bold claims on Wilder’s record means he has to back it up in the ring when he puts his own unbeaten status on the line.

“If I can’t beat Deontay Wilder, then I’m not very good, simple as that,” he said. “I won’t retire but if I can’t beat Wilder, I’m not the man I think I am.

“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?”