Boxers Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury got into an extremely heated exchange at a pre-fight press conference. The two are squaring off in a much anticipated bout on Dec. 1 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
The match was first considered a big deal because both fighters are currently un-defeated, but now with a race component added to the subplot, it’ll probably be even more buzzed about.
Fury is from Great Britain, born of Irish Traveller descent and at one point he talked about his people suffering for 200 years, which Wilder responded to. Wilder also told Fury what he’d do to him.
“I don’t give a f— how big you are, motherf—er. F— you. I’m gonna knock your ass out. I promise you that,” Wilder said in Tyson’s face. “You talking about how your people been fighting for 200 years? My people been fighting for 400 years and still fighting today.”
That’s when Fury placed his hands on Wilder’s arms and a tussle broke out. Both men were then separated, but the intensity picked up again when Wilder spoke to a Black reporter who goes by the name Radio Rahim.
Things got HEATED between@BronzeBomber and @TysonFury 😤
(via @ShowtimeBoxing)pic.twitter.com/ORHw2dyrwn
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 28, 2018
“You said that your people have been fighting for 400 years?” asked the reporter.
“Come on, man. Your people too,” Wilder shot back.
“Sir, I just want to know what you mean by that,” the reporter stated.
“You know what I mean by that,” Wilder replied. “You know what I’m talking about. Y’all all know what I’m talking about, man. Don’t sit up here and try to bait … Y’all know what the f— I’m talking about when I say these things. Your people too.”
The reporter then asked the fighter to go into more detail about his statement, but he said it wasn’t necessary.
“I don’t got to explain what’s already understood, Radio Raheem,” said Wilder. “You know what I said by that. I ain’t got to go farther. And if anybody don’t understand it, then God be with them. Go look up the history.”
“Don’t everybody believe in Google?” he continued. “Go Google that sh– to see what I’m talking about … How dare you sit up there and say explain? You know what I’m talking about. His fighting people. You know we’ve been fighting 400 and still fighting to this day.”
Later Wilder took to his Instagram page and explained why he spoke so passionately.
“I would be lying if I said the sh– don’t hurt, to see my culture of people go through so much bullsh–, all because of a f—— skin color,” he wrote. “I’ve always wondered what did we do so wrong to endure so much hate, heartache and pain and still do ’til this day. … I fight for Love. I fight for Peace. One day all the above shall be witnessed for what’s understood [and] don’t have to be explained.”
You can see Wilder’s exchange with the reporter below.
