Tyson Fury’s father John has taken aim at Deontay Wilder, claiming his behaviour before and after the fight “tarnished his performance” on Sunday afternoon.
From the weight of his costume to glove tampering, Wilder was full of excuses after defeat in his second fight with Fury.
Wilder did not let up in those accusations prior to the pair’s trilogy bout and it did not do much to earn him many fans but the same cannot be said for his work in the ring.
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The 35-year-old may have fallen short against Fury but in the aftermath for most it was as honourable a defeat as Wilder could have asked for.
Broadcaster Max Kellerman said as much himself post-fight: “Can you get beaten up and knocked out and become a truly great fighter on that night?”
Fury’s father John though took aim at Wilder for his refusal to shake The Gypsy King’s hand after the bout, claiming it “tarnished” all the respect he earned in the ring.
“His behaviour, Wilder, before and after – it would make anybody’s blood boil, wouldn’t it?” John told talkSPORT.
“As a man like I am – if you get beat by the better man you say, ‘Put our differences to one side, well done.’
“For my money, he tarnished his performance, Wilder.”
Wilder’s trainer Malik Scott revealed the reason behind the snub to ESNews on Sunday night.
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“Deontay looks at Fury as a man he had serious issues with concerning things that he felt and certain allegations that were out and certain things that he actually saw with his own eyes,” Scott said.
“After they released that energy, all that tension, he still felt the way he felt.”
Tyson Fury had his own issues with Wilder but he was able to put them to the side in the spirit of the sport.
“All the allegations that were made towards me … We fought like two warriors in there and I went over to shake his hand and say ‘well done’ and he was like ‘no, I don’t respect you’,” he said post-fight.
“I was like ‘how can you say I cheated when you know in your heart, and your full team knows, that you just got beaten fair and square’.
“He’s just a sore loser in boxing. I’m sure he’s not the first one and he won’t be the last one.
“But I’ve acted like a gentleman throughout my career that’s all I can do.”
John Fury too was adamant Wilder should have followed suit.
“It was a great performance, not knocking it, he fought his heart out, he fought like a warrior,” he added.
“But his behaviour at the end just let him down totally.
“You don’t behave like that. They’ve just fought their hearts out, beat each other to pieces, you’d think they’d show a bit of consideration for one another.
“My son did because that’s how I’ve brought him up.
“But obviously in Wilder’s case – I don’t know what the man’s made of to be honest with you. He’s obviously from different cloth altogether.”
Fury himself was far from perfect in the lead-up to the fight to be fair, launching expletive-ridden tirades at Wilder at both the weigh-in and press conference.
