Deontay Wilder and his trainer issued their first statements after loss to Tyson Fury.
Due to the nature of his knockout loss, Deontay Wilder wasn’t interviewed after his third bout with Tyson Fury. The Bronze Bomber did release a brief statement after that back-and-forth war that became an instant classic of a heavyweight championship bout.
“I did my best, but it wasn’t good enough,” Wilder said (via Boxing Scene). “I’m not sure what happened. I know that in training he did certain things, and I also knew that he didn’t come in at 277 to be a ballet dancer. He came to lean on me, try to rough me up and he succeeded.”
While Fury again called Wilder a “sore loser” and revealed that he refused to shake his hand backstage after the fight, his trainer explained the situation and gave the victor some much deserved praise.
“Deontay, obviously, he looks at Fury as a man he had serious issues with concerning things he felt and certain allegations that was out, and certain things he’d seen with his actual eyes. Tonight, after they released all that energy, he still felt the way he felt,” Wilder’s trainer Malik Scott told ES News.
“I’ve always said he’s not good, he’s very good and damn-near great. After tonight I’m gonna consider him a great fighter. Much respect to him,” Scott said. “Deontay fought his heart out. He was great, Fury was greater tonight. The best man won. It was a great night of boxing and the heavyweight division is on fire.”
Scott said he will make sure Wilder takes a break from competing, after the two straight losses to Fury.
“He’s good,” Scott said about Wilder. “We saw the doctor afterwards, everything was cool. He’s got a busted lip, he broke his hand, broke his finger or knuckle, something like that is broke. But life goes on.
“I don’t really want Deontay talking about boxing, doing nothing with boxing for quite some time,” Scott said. “I want to get him some good rest, especially after this. Because even after the last fight, he was so worked up, so worked up over time, in training, arbitration … he really never got to rest. He deserved a good rest. We’re going to make sure he gets it now.”