Deontay Wilder Has Slammed Tyson Fury For Using ‘Mental Illness’ To Build His US Profile

Deontay Wilder has intensified his heated rivalry with Tyson Fury by shockingly accusing him of using his "mental illness thing" to build his US profile.

Fury, 30, has openly admitted that he battled his inner demons after his stunning upset against Wladimir Klitschko in 2015.

The Brit superstar returned to the boxing world in 2018 and has slowly climbed his way back up the ladder, which has now included a major push into the US scene.

But Wilder, 33, has slated the 'Gypsy King' for using his battle with mental health as a means of 'entertaining' people.

"The only thing he really has to go off of is beating a dead horse with the mental illness thing, that's it," the WBC heavyweight champ told 78SportsTV.

"But he's going to find in America that's yesterday's news, that's an old story, in America we want what's fresh and what's new.

"There are millions who have faced this illness.

"It's a thing that can be overcome, so many people have overcome it, he wants to come up with this story, it's something he's holding on to, the mental illness thing is dying out.

"As you can see in his last fight, it says it all, his story paints itself, it tells its own story.

"It's pathetic what he's doing but as long people are entertained he's going to continue to do it, but once it dies down he may change his ways."

Fury and the 'Bronze Bomber' traded blows at the Staples Center in Los Angeles last year for the WBC heavyweight championship.

The match ended in a controversial draw and the two heavyweight titans have taken up separate fights since then.

Wilder produced a stunning first-round KO against Dominic Breazeale in May, while Fury secured a superb second-round TKO victory over Tom Schwarz in June.

The WBC kingpin is expected to have a rematch with Luis Ortiz in September and Fury is scheduled to fight again in October against a yet-to-be-named opponent -- widely tipped to be Jarrell Miller.

But the 'Gypsy King' has revealed that a rematch with Wilder is expected to take place on 22nd February, though an official announcement for the bout has not been made.

Who would win in a rematch?

Let us know in the comments.

Featured Image Credit: PA/Tyson Fury

Topics: Tyson Fury, Bronze Bomber, Boxing News, Boxing, Gypsy King, Deontay Wilder, WBC, USA, US

Adnan Riaz

Adnan Riaz is a journalist for SPORTbible. He studied for a B.A. in History at the University of York and followed it up with an M.A. in Multimedia Journalism at MMU. Before he started writing about sports, he spent over four years in the gaming press. He has worked for several publications, including Hardcore Gamer, LADbible and the Manchester Evening News. Follow him on Twitter to find out what he is working on next. Got a story tip for Adnan? Email him: [email protected]

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