Deontay Wilder hit the end of his career following a second loss to Tyson Fury and should never have boxed again.
That’s the view of John Fury, the father of Tyson, who predicted Wilder’s demise after a Fight of the Year battle in October 2021. Fury said Wilder should walk away from the sport and not attempt a comeback.
On the face of Fury’s comments, those views may have been a fair reflection of where Wilder’s career has ended up. However, how the ever-brash John spoke was utterly unforgiving.
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Wilder suffered back-to-back defeats at the height of his powers after missing out on a fight with Anthony Joshua in 2018. The Bronze Bomber turned to Fury, who was returning from a long absence, as he looked for a new dance partner.
Despite extensive back-and-forth correspondence between Eddie Hearn and Shelly Finkel, Joshua had walked away. It seemed Wilder was firmly a member of the ‘Who Needs Him Club?’ – for the Londoner. Given what happened with Fury over three fights, AJ might have been proven right about taking on Alexander Povetkin instead.
It’s safe to say neither Wilder nor Fury were ever the same again after their three-fight saga.
As talk began to hit boxing socials about a possible fourth fight, which Finkel had exclusively told World Boxing News was a possibility, ex-boxer John was having none of it. He was adamant that Wilder should grace the ring again, especially not against his son.
Tyson tore Wilder apart in February 2020 after surviving a controversial draw in late 2018. And eighteen months after the punishing return, the pair shared eleven captivating rounds in Las Vegas to end the trilogy. That third effort, which saw both boxers hit the canvas more than once, is the only valid reason why a fourth fight would be a solid request from Team Wilder.
However, John spat venom at possibly giving the Tuscaloosa puncher another crack at the WBC heavyweight title.
“He will kill Deontay Wilder. That’s its start and end,” Fury told The Mirror. “I don’t even think Wilder should be boxing anymore. Look at [the third fight with Tyson]. It was all over every time Tyson caught him up the side of the head. He’s a pressure cooker ready to explode, him.
“He’ll get hit the wrong way and won’t come to Wilder. If I were Deontay Wilder, I would seriously consider retiring with my health intact. He’s made millions of dollars. Why risk it? The Gypsy King will kill him stone dead, and I don’t want that. I want the best man to win, go home healthy to their family, and do what’s right.
“It’s a sport at the end of the day. Even though I love it, we train to knock people out, but knocking out and permanent injuries? That’s another matter.
“I wish that on no athlete on no athlete. I’ve got kids and grandkids. I love them all. What I wouldn’t like to happen to mine, I definitely wouldn’t want to happen to other people.”
Instead, Fury embarked on a less-than-stellar run after Wilder. He faced Dillian Whyte, Derek Chisora, and Francis Ngannou as he aimed to keep his faculties intact for later life. The Wilder battles had taken plenty out of both, and they were no longer at the peak of their powers.
Wilder faced Robert Helenius, an opponent he’d spent many rounds sparring and knew he could beat. He did in less than a round, his only win in the five years since suffering his first loss to Fury.
Both have lost their last two in a row, proving that when fighters find that career-defining dance partner, they never come out of it as close to the men they were.
