Tyson Fury's ex-opponent Otto Wallin urges Deontay Wilder to 'man up' and accept he 'lost to the better man'

DEONTAY WILDER has been urged to 'man up' and accept defeat if he has any chance of beating Tyson Fury in their trilogy bout.

Fury brilliantly beat Wilder in their February 2020 rematch, after they dramatically drew in 2018.

But the American, who was dethroned and defeated for the first time, put the loss down to everything but a masterclass from the Gypsy King.

That included his water being SPIKED and Fury boxing with WEIGHTS in his gloves – allegations which Wilder has stuck by but that have never proven.

Otto Wallin, the last man Fury beat before his crowning night over Wilder, has hit out at the Bronze Bomber for refusing to acknowledge his loss.

And he fears it will hold back the former champion from recognising what went wrong and fixing it – playing right into Fury's hands.

Swedish fighter Wallin, 30, told SunSport: “I think that Fury is going to win again. I find it strange with Wilder, all the excuses.

“That really makes me question, how much can you really improve if you have to keep coming up with excuses?

“I feel like Wilder’s got to man up and take the loss, he lost fair and square to the better man, realise that and start working."

BETTING SPECIAL: GET 30/1 ON FURY OR 50/1 ON WILDER FOR HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING CLASH

Wilder, 35, twice dropped Fury, 33, three years ago in their original but was largely outboxed as it ended all square on the cards.

But in the rematch, Fury caught everyone by surprise as he packed on the pounds to 19st 5lb to go on the offensive.

He scored two knockdowns of his own before winning in round seven.

It came just five months after Fury, all the way down at 18st, was cut against Wallin and narrowly avoided a stoppage loss.

The Swede was moments away from forcing the win, but Fury, who needed 47 stitches after, proved his resilience and grinded out a points decision to remain unbeaten.

After coming so close to causing the mother of all upsets, Wallin has told Wilder to copy his tactics and take the fight to his heavyweight rival.

He said: “The biggest thing with Wilder is he’s just got to let his hands go and not load up so much, because Fury has good defence.

“For Wilder, use your jab, let your shots go and make it a fight also, you can’t just load up and try to knock him out.

“Fury is a smart fighter, he’s already stopped Wilder before, doesn’t mean he will stop him now, but he’s the favourite for me.”

Since losing to Fury, Wallin has returned with two wins, most recently against Dominic Breazeale, 36.

It followed a period of being swerved at the top of the division, due to the massive scare he the Gypsy King.

But Wallin can force a rematch with Fury and guarantee himself a WBC title shot when he challenges Dillian Whyte, 33, at the O2 Arena on October 30.

I feel like Wilder’s got to man up and take the loss, he lost fair and square to the better man, realise that and start working.

He said: “This is the perfect opportunity for me with Dillian, I get the interim belt and then Fury will have to fight me. 

“Because after our fight, I haven’t heard him mention my name once, some interviews he calls out 15-20 guys, but never mentions my name.

“I’ve gotten better since that last fight, it was a huge gap in class, I had never fought on that level before. 

“It was my first time, I had only fought one round in 18 months before I fought him and not a lot of people know but I had surgery behind my ear 7-8 weeks before. 

“We were really careful in sparring before that fight but afterwards, with the experience I got and the fights I’ve had now, I’m in a much better space.” 

Source: Read Full Article