'Grow up': Mike Tyson's brutal uppercut for Deontay Wilder
Mike Tyson was never one to pull his punches and the former heavyweight champion has a pointed message for fellow American boxing star, Deontay Wilder.
The previously undefeated Wilder came under fire after being completely outclassed by Tyson Fury in February, in what was a rematch of their controversial draw in 2018.
Wilder blamed his elaborate pre-fight costume - among other things - for the loss, insisting the 20kg suit was "way too heavy" and left his legs fatigued during the contest.
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“He didn’t hurt me at all, but the simple fact is ... that my uniform was way too heavy for me,” Wilder told Yahoo Sports by telephone.
“I didn’t have no legs from the beginning of the fight.
“In the third round, my legs were just shot all the way through.
The American also questioned his assistant trainer Mark Breland for throwing in the towel to stop the fight too soon, despite the absolute battering he was taking at the hands of Fury.
Wilder (42-1-1 career record) also took aim at referee Kenny Bayless, insisting he failed to officiate Fury's persistent punches to the back of his head.
The 34-year-old American was roundly criticised for his reaction to the defeat and now Tyson has given him a stunning new serve of his own, telling the fighter to "grow up" and move on.
Tyson told rapper Fat Joe on Instagram live: “[Wilder] feels like giving up, ‘Oh, my life is over. I’ve made US$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.”
Tyson - who watched the Bronze Bomber's loss to Fury ringside in Las Vegas - had some words of caution for the American, whom he thinks doesn't look like the same fighter since the draw against Fury in 2018.
“Well, listen, he didn’t fight the same fight as he fought the first fight," Tyson said.
‘Something went wrong’
“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, (Wilder) couldn’t rise to the occasion again.”
Wilder has activated the rematch clause in his contract, delaying the possibility of a hugely anticipated unification bout between WBC champion Fury and Anthony Joshua, who holds the WBA, IBF and WBO titles.
It is now hoped Fury and Wilder will meet for a third bout later this year after the original date of July 18 was scrapped because of the coronavirus pandemic.
While Tyson says there's still a chance Wilder can turn things around in their trilogy fight, he needs to correct the mistakes he made in the second showdown to stand any chance.
"There’s always a chance. Everyone always has a chance," Tyson added.
"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.”
with agencies