Tyson Fury scoffed at Deontay Wilder’s accusation that Fury faked COVID-19 to postpone their third fight.

Fury refuted Wilder’s claim during an interview with BoxingScene.com. England’s Fury also noted that he has contracted COVID-19 twice since he defeated Wilder in their rematch 19 months ago.

Wilder contended yet again during a recent appearance on “The PBC Podcast” that Fury truly postponed their third bout because he was getting “pieced up” by younger sparring partners while preparing for their July 24 encounter (https://www.boxingscene.com/wilder-on-furys-withdrawal-honestly-i-believe-he-no-covid-look-his-actions--160534). Their third fight was postponed from July 24 until October 9 early in July once Fury informed his co-promoters, Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc. and Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, that he tested positive again for the coronavirus.

“I don’t care what Deontay Wilder says,” Fury said, “because, you know, if we wanna take this publicly, then we have medical records by doctors here in Las Vegas who tested me. So yeah, I don’t think you can fake COVID with the PCR test, when they stick a big thing up your nose. You’ve either got it or you haven’t. You know, there would be no reason for me to want COVID and get out of a Deontay Wilder fight. Why would I wanna chuck away 20, 30 million dollars to fight someone I’ve already knocked out quite comfortable? Why wouldn’t I wanna take that, like a lottery win for free?”

The 6-feet-9, 270-pound Fury floored Wilder twice, once apiece in the third and fifth rounds, and dominated the former WBC champion on his way to winning their second bout by seventh-round technical knockout in February 2020 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Before Fury failed a COVID test early in July, their third WBC heavyweight title fight was postponed multiple times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 33-year-old Fury felt fine soon after he tested positive for COVID-19 a second time 2½ months ago. The Manchester native explained that he wasn’t as fortunate during his first bout with the virus.

“I’ve had COVID twice, two times,” Fury said. “I had it once back in like 2020 and once a couple of months ago. The first time was a lot harder than the second time because I lost my sense of smell and taste, and I felt weak and I felt terrible. The second time, I didn’t feel that terrible. The day I tested positive, I actually sparred 10 rounds. I felt a little bit under the weather, but I didn’t feel terrible. Like the first time I had it was a lot worse than the second time. But, you know, with COVID you can’t fight because the commission won’t let you fight anyway, even if you wanted to.”

Caesars Sportsbook lists Fury as a 3-1 favorite to defeat Wilder in their third fight a week from Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. This third battle between Fury (30-0-1, 21 KOs) and the 35-year-old Wilder (42-1-1, 41 KOs), of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, will headline an ESPN/FOX Sports Pay-Per-View show.

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.