MIKE TYSON has urged Deontay Wilder to “grow up” and stop feeling sorry for himself after losing his WBC title against Tyson Fury.
Fury, 31, dethroned Wilder, 34, with an emphatic seventh round stoppage last February, in their rematch having drawn in December 2018.
Mike Tyson claimed Deontay Wilder made £80m against Tyson Fury
Wilder gave a host of excuses after losing to Fury
Directly after losing for the first time in his 44-fight career, the Bronze Bomber astonishingly blamed his 45lb ring walk costume he wore before the fight for “weakening” his legs as well as slamming assistant trainer Mark Breland, who rightfully chucked in the towel to stop the fight.
But heavyweight legend Tyson – who suffered the biggest upset loss in boxing history against ‘Buster’ Douglas in 1990 – claimed the former champion banked £80million for the rematch defeat and should not lose confidence.
He said to rapper Fat Joe on Instagram live: “[Wilder] feels like giving up, ‘Oh, my life is over. I’ve made $90 million dollars. My life is over. Oh God, I want to die.’ Grow up.”
“Keep going through it until it’s really over.
“Wilder can still make a lot of money. He shouldn’t feel sad or discouraged. And he should continue to go out there and fight with a lot of zest and confidence.”
Wilder immediately triggered his right to a rematch, which has been backdated from July to October amid the coronavirus pandemic.
But 53-year-old Tyson – who watched ringside as Fury dominated the Bronze Bomber – said the Alabaman had “no life in him” and has not looked the same since scrapping a draw against the Gypsy King in late 2018.
He said: “Well, listen, he didn’t fight the same fight as he fought the first fight.
“The first fight, [Wilder] fought with confidence like he could win. In this fight, he fought like he didn’t have no zest, no life in him. I don’t think he was the same fighter after the first fight.
“After the first fight, [Widler] couldn’t rise to the occasion again.”
Two-time champ Iron Mike still gives heavy-hitter Wilder a chance of winning the trilogy, but warned if he does not rectify mistakes in training then the third fight could be even more one sided than the Las Vegas rematch.
Tyson explained: “No, there’s always a chance. Everyone always has a chance. It depends on how much he wants to give in to it. Does he want to dedicate his life to really winning the fight, then anything can happen.
“Something went wrong with Wilder during the second fight with Fury, and he never did adjust,” said Tyson.
“If Wilder can’t fix the mistakes he made in his rematch with Fury, then he’s not going to last long in the third fight. But he will make a lot of money, so it’s not all bad.”
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Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
