Deontay Wilder has spoken about the events which led to Tyson Fury bypassing the second fight in favor of a run on ESPN.
Despite an exciting first fight back in December, Wilder v Fury II fell apart unexpectedly at the eleventh hour.
Terms were agreed for a May 18 battle at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn until Top Rank boss Bob Arum stepped in.
Arum offered Fury tens of millions of dollars to choose to build up to a Wilder return, rather than accepting immediately.
This was because Fury had a long layoff before returning to the top of the sport. Something which manifested itself in two hard knockdowns during the first Wilder fight.
Explained how they agreed the first time, compared to the second, and giving his thoughts on why Fury walked away, Wilder was philosophical with his musings.
“We talked, and he said he wanted the fight. It happened just like that,” Wilder told Richard Poxon on his recent poxcast.
“I didn’t have to fight Fury, but I wanted to fight the best. Please don’t doubt me when I want to close all conversations of doubt.
“I wanted to give it to the fans, live and in action. To prove to you, I am the best. I don’t see anything wrong with that. People who don’t want to see that are not fans of boxing, you’re just here to cause chaos.
“I can’t control these guys and the path they choose in life. They are going to choose what’s best for them and their career.
“I’m a risk, a high-risk. I’m a massive risk to your health and your career.
“When they stalled for a whole week with the contract in front of them, I knew something was up.
“My manager Shelly was like, ‘they haven’t answered the phone. Maybe they’ll call back’.
“With Shelly and (Frank) Warren being friends, we knew something was up when he wasn’t answering his phone calls. But it’s all good,” he added.
DEONTAY WILDER vs BREAZEALE
Wilder has since drafted in Dominic Breazeale as a straight replacement for what will now be an off-Pay-Per-View affair.
Garnering over 300,000 PPV buys the first time around, a fight with Fury was projected to hit over 500,000 if they’d have pushed it through.
It could be now 2020 or later before the return retakes place…if ever – as Fury prepares to fight Tom Schwarz in Las Vegas.
