Deontay Wilder told he must ‘accept defeat’ if he wants to beat Tyson Fury

Former cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson told Deontay Wilder he needs to let his defeat to Tyson Fury go in order to get revenge over his bitter rival

Deontay Wilder won’t come out on top in his trilogy fight with Tyson Fury if he does not ‘accept’ his previous defeat to the Gypsy King, says Johnny Nelson.

The Bronze Bomber suffered defeat to Fury back in February 2020 after a remarkable performance from the Brit, ending the American’s reign as WBC heavyweight champion.

The 35-year-old conjured up numerous excuses for his first professional defeat, even accusing his cornerman – who has since been released from his position – of spiking his water.

Former WBO cruiserweight champion Nelson is confident that history will repeat itself if Wilder does not admit Fury was the better fighter in their Las Vegas rematch.

“If you go by form, you expect Tyson Fury to do a better job than he did the last time,” Nelson told Sky Sports. “If you go by what’s happening lifestyle-wise outside of the ring – and one fighter that’s had to sit there and simmer, be furious.

“When you talk about sleeping lions as in Wilder, he’s mad at things that have happened, and he still can’t accept the defeat. That’s his problem.

“He needs to understand why it happened and fix what happened and not blame everybody else, which he has been doing.

“And until he does that, the result will be exactly the same.”

Despite seemingly backing Fury, Nelson refused to rule out Wilder’s chances of pulling one back and tying the series against his nemesis.

He suggested Fury has evolved into a ‘massive celebrity’ and questioned whether the attention on his lifestyle has affected the Brit’s preparation – and even admitted he would be unsurprised if Wilder landed punches.

However, Nelson admitted Fury is more skilled, agile and has more in his locker than his American opponent.

To prepare himself for the third instalment of their feud, Wilder hired Malik Scott to help him defeat Fury in devastating fashion.

“My mind is very violent,” said Wilder. “We built a whole facility to commit a legal homicide and that’s just what it is, my mind is very violent at this time.

“I can’t wait, when you’re contemplating and pre-meditating about harming a man and you see that person, what you’ve been thinking and feeling will come out.

“The only thing about it is, at that point in time, I have to wait until I get in the ring to really release because I can’t do it on the outside, it’d defeat the purpose.

“The baby’s got to eat, but when I do get in the ring, this is what I love about it, I’m able to release everything I’ve been feeling, everything I’ve been thinking, and get paid to do it.”