Deontay Wilder Will Never Beat Tyson Fury, Says Former Welterweight Champion

Retired boxing champion Paulie Malignaggi does not think Deontay Wilder will ever stand a chance against Tyson Fury as he predicts a cakewalk in favor of the Gypsy King should a trilogy take place. Believing Fury should have won the first meeting, the former welterweight elite said the British champ has already done enough to place himself miles ahead of Wilder in competition.

“Wilder is a very good fighter and one of the best in the world, but I don’t think he will ever beat Tyson Fury. No. Fury has his number, and the number of the entire heavyweight division,” said Malignaggi, who now serves as a broadcast analyst for Showtime, as he spoke to BoxingScene.com.

“I don’t think anyone in the division can beat Fury right now. The only person who beats Tyson Fury is Tyson Fury himself if he loses his mind, half a**es it in training, and falls off the wagon again. He’s more mature now, and I don’t expect that to happen.”

Malignaggi, however, clarified that there is no beef between him and Wilder despite the former WBC heavyweight champion allegedly asking Showtime to fire him and Steve Farhood from their broadcast posts.

“There was no bad blood from me toward Wilder until there was bad blood from him. I am nobody’s cheerleader. I am an analyst,” said Malignaggi. “I actually liked Deontay, like most fighters. This is how we make our living. It’s a short window, and I love watching guys achieve their dreams. I have a job, and whether I’m your friend or not, I have to do my job no matter if we’re cool or not.

“I don’t expect an athlete to be happy with criticism, but at the same time, my criticism is not from a perspective of trying to bring anyone down. I’ve been on the wrong end of bad decisions, and anytime I see one, I want to make sure I put it out there. I was disgusted with the decision of the first Wilder and Fury fight.”

Malignaggi was a 16-year boxing veteran, who has seized world titles in two different weight classes. He announced his retirement in March 2017, finishing his career with a decent 36-8, 7 record.

According to The Athletic, meanwhile, the third fight could happen on Oct. 3 after the original schedule, which was set on July 18, was canceled due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The bout is said to be staged in Las Vegas anew.

The two heavyweight fighters engaged in a tight contest when they met for the first time in Dec. 2018, resulting in a controversial split draw. The rematch, however, was nowhere near the first bout as Fury went full blast to dominate the fight, serving Wilder his first taste of defeat via a seventh-round stoppage after the American’s corner decided to throw in the towel to stop the punishment