By Keith Idec
It wasn’t exactly reminiscent of Mike Tyson biting Lennox Lewis’ leg, but there was some physical contact Monday toward the end of the first Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury press conference.
Wilder shoved Fury as the big British showman challenged the WBC heavyweight champion to hit him on the stage at BT Sport’s headquarters in London. The heavyweights quickly were separated and neither fighter appeared to be genuinely angry during the exchange.
“My wife pushes harder than that, you little b*tch,” Fury yelled at Wilder. “That was nothing. That’s pathetic. I wanna feel the power. You never even had the nuts to [hit me], did ya? I wanna feel it. I don’t play games, dosser. I wanna play. Come on!”
The 6-feet-7 Wilder and the 6-feet-9 Fury came face to face after Fury insisted that he wanted to feel Wilder’s vaunted power. Wilder shoved Fury once Fury got too close to him.
“Can we have a little spar now?,” Fury said before they came together. “Let’s have a little tickle. Come on. Let me feel this power of the Alabama slammer. Come on. Let’s have a little body spar. I wanna feel it.”
Wilder wouldn’t indulge Fury.
“This is no game at this point,” Wilder told Fury. “This is no game. This is real. As you see, we’re at the press conference. This is a real fight. So we’re announcing this fight is on. So at this point in time, my mindset is on. You’re gonna feel every power you need to feel. You’re gonna feel everything you need to feel. Let’s do it. Let’s do it. Let’s make it happen. Let’s make it happen. Let’s make it happen. It’s getting real, baby.”
Fury assured Wilder he fully realizes play time is over as they move toward training camps for their heavyweight title fight.
“You think it’s a game,” Fury said. “I’m gonna punch your face in. There ain’t no playing, either. I don’t play games, especially not with bums like you. You’ve got power, have you? You think you can hit a bit? Let me feel it. Let me feel that power, boy.”
Fury (27-0, 19 KOs) and Wilder (40-0, 39 KOs) came together Monday to kick off a three-day, three-city press tour to promote their Showtime Pay-Per-View fight December 1 at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Their press junket is scheduled to continue Tuesday on the Flight Deck at Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York (12:30 p.m. ET). It’ll conclude Wednesday at Star Plaza, right outside Staples Center in Los Angeles (12:30 p.m. PT).
The Wilder-Fury press conferences in New York and Los Angeles are open to the public.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.
