WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (40-0, 39 KOs) is not allowing himself to get riled up by the constant taunts from his upcoming challenger Tyson Fury (27-0, 19 KOs).
The two boxers will collide in the ring on December 1 in the main event of a Showtime PPV card (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
During the LA portion of their recent three city media tour, the two fighters had to be separated after a war of words became more heated than usual.
Wilder indicates that Fury is attempting to inject the same mental tactics that he used against Wladimir Klitschko in 2015.
Those mental tactics would assist Fury in pulling off a major upset, when he picked up a twelve round decision over Klitschko to capture the heavyweight crown.
"Fury got into Klitschko’s head, and Klitschko wasn’t able to let his hands go, execute or do the things he usually does. Fury is trying to do the same thing with me, but he’s not getting into my head—trust me," Wilder told Premier Boxing Champions.
"I’ve been through that so many times, this is just another phase in my life. But I want Tyson to think he’s in my head. If he thinks that, then I’m doing a great job of making him believe that."
But, Wilder is not going to allow Fury to get away with his trash talk - with the sole goal being a knockout victory.
'When he steps into the ring with me, Tyson Fury is going to pay for everything that he’s said. I’m going to hold him fully accountable for his actions. I’ve got a thick skin, so this is nothing," Wilder said.
"[Steve] Cunningham is a much smaller guy, and if he dropped Fury, then I’m not going to have any problem connecting. The major difference though is that when I connect—and I am gonna connect—it’s only going to be a matter of time for him. And when it comes, it’s going to be good night for Tyson Fury."