LOS ANGELES: Deontay Wilder has called for an immediate rematch with Tyson Fury, dismissing claims from his British rival he would attempt to avoid a return bout after their epic heavyweight duel in Los Angeles.
Wilder retained his World Boxing Council heavyweight crown on Saturday after a thrilling 12-round battle ended in a split decision draw at the Staples Center.
Fury, who many observers believe did enough to win despite being knocked down twice during the fight, said on Monday he feared Wilder would seek to duck a rematch âat all costs.â
However the 33-year-old Wilder rejected that claim in the strongest possible terms, saying a rematch with Fury was his priority rather than a unification bout with WBA, IBF and WBO champion Anthony Joshua.
âIâm ready to do it again,â Wilder said.
âMy main goal is Tyson Fury. Iâm looking forward to giving him the rematch as soon as possible.
âThis is the biggest fight still in the heavyweight division, this is the most exciting fight in the heavyweight division and weâre ready to give the fans what they want to see.â
Many pundits and fans thought Fury had done enough to win the fight in LA on Saturday.Â
Wilder snatched a draw on Saturday after Fury somehow recovered from a devastating 12th round knockdown by the American champion to finish the fight on his feet.
Wilder said he would make no mistake in any possible rematch.
âHe woke up from hell â I want to put him back there,â Wilder said.
Fury, who only returned to boxing this year after nearly three years out of the ring as he struggled with depression, drink and drug problems, had said Monday he doubted Wilder would grant him a return.
âIâve got a funny feeling heâs going to get his running shoes out and stay away from me at all costs,â Fury said.
WILDER SAYS REMATCH IS âINESCAPABLEâ
However Wilder said a rematch was all but inescapable.
âBoth sides definitely want (a rematch) to happen. I donât see why we wouldnât. Itâs a great fight and the build-up has already started. We canât get away from this fight.
âItâs only right for us to go back in and do it again. I donât want no other fights to happen between him or I before then. I want to give Tyson Fury the rematch ASAP.â
Wilder, who on Saturday had spoken enthusiastically about a possible unification fight with Joshua, meanwhile poured cold water on the idea on Tuesday.
Asked where he now saw Joshuaâs place in the heavyweight pecking order, Wilder replied: âI havenât even thought about Joshua. Theyâre getting what they deserve.â
Negotiations over a possible Wilder-Joshua showdown stalled earlier this year.
If the rematch does go ahead then the winner will likely face Anthony Joshua in a mega fight.Â
Wilderâs camp maintain they offered $50 million to Joshua to accept a fight, a gambit dismissed by the British boxerâs manager Eddie Hearn as a âwonderful PR move.â
âThey felt like they was the only people in boxing or the heavyweight division that people cared about,â Wilder said of the Joshua camp. âWe donât care about him no more.
âThey had their opportunity. They had four months to have their opportunity. But they led people on. Their ego got the best of them.
âSo let them continue to fight the second tier fighters.â
Wilder also dismissed criticism of the scoring of Saturdayâs fight, adamant that Fury had not done enough to win.
âHe was landing some punches but most of them was pitty-patter, they didnât affect me,â Wilder said.
âWhen you coming in here fighting the champion, youâve got to be dominant. Youâve got to take the title, and I donât think Fury took the title. I felt like I won that fight, totally.â