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LAS VEGAS – Deontay Wilder promised a redemptive performance Saturday night that’ll make him a two-time WBC heavyweight champion.
The Alabama-based knockout artist mentioned the word “redemption” during a press conference Wednesday at MGM Grand Garden Arena. After a five-year reign as champion and 10 title defenses, though, Wilder apparently doesn’t feel as though he has to prove himself to Tyson Fury or anyone else that doubts him following his one-sided, seventh-round, technical-knockout loss to Fury in their rematch in February 2020.
“I don’t have nothing to prove,” Wilder told FOX Sports’ Kate Abdo, who moderated the press conference. “You know, I’m in a great place. I’m in a great state of mind, have always been. You know, I’ve got a lot of great people around me, that’s been covering me all this time. You know, it’s nothing to prove at all. This, right here, is redemption, retaliation, retribution, you know, and all of the above.”
Abdo also asked Wilder if he feels additional pressure to avenge his loss to Fury because of the numerous excuses he made for his first professional defeat 19 months ago at MGM Grand Garden Arena.
“Not at all,” Wilder said. “When you know the truth, they say the truth should set you free. You know, there’s no pressure on me. And then, when you have nothing to lose, it’s no pressure at all. All the pressure is on him. It’s nothing to lose. Nothing to lose and everything to gain.”
The 35-year-old Wilder blamed the elaborate, 45-pound costume he wore into the ring for weakening his legs during the long walk from his dressing room for their rematch. In addition to his costume claim, Wilder questioned former assistant trainer Mark Breland’s loyalty because Breland threw in the towel during the seventh round.
Wilder also made disparaging remarks about referee Kenny Bayless, who stopped their scheduled 12-round rematch at 1:39 of the seventh round.
The former champion’s most inflammatory claim following his loss was that Fury’s left glove was doctored. Fury again laughed off Wilder’s glove accusation during the press conference Wednesday.
“Maybe if he would’ve come out with one of these excuses, then it would’ve been believable,” Fury said. “But not 50 of them. Come on. And he can believe what he wants. What it tells me is that he’s a weak mental person who I’m gonna knock spark out on Saturday night.
“I beat him the first time after three years out of the ring, quite comfortable, actually. [He] won two rounds of a 12-rounder. I absolutely obliterated him in the rematch. He didn’t even win any of the rounds. And then this third fight, I just see much more of the same.”
England’s Fury (30-0-1, 21 KOs), who fought Wilder to a 12-round split draw in December 2018 at Staples Center in Los Angles, is listed by most Internet sportsbooks as a 3-1 favorite versus Wilder (42-1-1, 41 KOs). Their 12-round fight for Fury’s WBC belt will headline ESPN/FOX Sports Pay-Per-View’s four-fight show (9 p.m. EDT; $79.99).
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.