What started as a way to promote a major heavyweight matchup wound up becoming a soft sideshow showdown between a beloved British caricature and what should be America’s heavyweight champion.
The three-day, boisterous, tension-fueled international press tour came to a close on Wednesday in downtown Los Angeles when heavyweight giants Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury had to be separated by security after the verbal sparring threatened to turn physical in front of a large contingent of both Wilder and Fury supporters.
However, the true debacle was that with two of the three cities being in America, why did the Fury “Stan’s” dominate the support train in the States?
It all started on Monday in London where the two exchanged verbal jabs ahead of their December 1st showdown for theWBC Heavyweight World Championship, live on SHOWTIME PPV from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.
Wilder vs. Fury: London Press Conference | SHOWTIME PPV
WBC Heavyweight World Champion Deontay Wilder and lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury embark on a three-city press tour to announce their December 1 world title bout. #SHOSports #WildervsFury Check out more Wilder vs.
Amid the back-and-forth jawing, the 6-foot-7 Wilder and the 6-foot-9 Fury had to be separated when Wilder refused to back down from Furys challenge to engage in a sparring session.
I want to feel the power, Fury said to Wilder. Youre going to feel the Fury, I want to feel the Alabama slammer.
Im going to show you the full power, Wilder quipped back. This aint no game!
The international press tour continued on the flight deck of the historic Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum on Tuesday and the heavyweight giants wasted no time getting up close and personal with one another once again.
The fighters were led on to the stage by the Brooklyn Nets Beats Drumline and immediately met face to face. Just like a day before in London, the two again had to be separated midway through the press conference when Fury ordered Wilder to take his sunglasses off so he could see his eyes.
Wilder vs. Fury: New York Press Conference | SHOWTIME PPV
WBC Heavyweight World Champion Deontay Wilder and lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury embark on a three-city press tour to announce their December 1 world title bout. #SHOSports #WildervsFury Check out more Wilder vs.
Although the beef seemed a little contrived since it is apparent that the two respect one another, seeing two big men about to scrap is always a good time.
In the closing moments of the final press conference at host fight venue in Los Angeles, emotions appeared to boil over as both fighters had to be held back.
With the whirlwind press tour in the rear-view mirror, the fighters now have 58 days to prepare for the biggest heavyweight fight on U.S. soil since Lennox Lewis KOd Mike Tyson in June 2002.
Wilder vs. Fury: Los Angeles Press Conference | SHOWTIME PPV
WBC Heavyweight World Champion Deontay Wilder and lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury embark on a three-city press tour to announce their December 1 world title bout. #SHOSports #WildervsFury Check out more Wilder vs.
Wilder is yet to be understood and accepted by America as its rightful champion. You would think after his spectacular KO’s over Bermane Stiverne and Luis Ortiz that Wilder would have nothing more to prove, but this is not the case.
Instead, Wilder has to accept the two choices the fans have presented him: either embrace being the bad guy to Fury’s affable anti-hero persona, or wait for the love to build incrementally with each demonstrative win.
Either way, its still a shame that a man who won a bronze medal for his country is becoming victim to he same ailment that affects all confident black men: ostracization.
