Deontay Wilder cryptically claims former heavyweight rival Tyson Fury has been FORCED to quit boxing

Deontay Wilder has cryptically hinted at his belief that former rival Tyson Fury has been forced to retire from the ring.

Wilder and Fury played out a trilogy, starting with a draw in their initial bout in December 2018. Alabama-born fighter Wilder was knocked out by Fury in February 2020, losing his WBC heavyweight title in the process, and was unable to win the pair’s rematch last October.

Fury was undefeated in his quest to win every belt in the division, and has suggested he would step away from boxing to focus on his wife Paris and their six children.

Fury was undefeated in his career, and now claims he wants to spend more time with his family

However, despite Fury, 34, relinquishing his Ring title last week, not everyone believes his time in the sport is really up.

The 36-year-old Wilder disagrees, and believes that Fury will not continue his storied career – possibly in a decision that he has no control over.

Speaking to FightHype, The Bronze Bomber said: ‘I think he [Fury] is going to have to retire, he’s going to have to. He’s got a lot of stuff going on, I’m not even going to get into it. but it’s looking like he’s going to have to.

‘Once that happens, then anything is up for grabs. I can’t give too much information out, I don’t really want to discuss it, but it’s going to be a lot of changes in the division. There are a lot of opportunities and different things lined up, so stay tuned!’

It is not clear what “changes” Wilder is referring to, whether they are referring to Fury’s personal situation, which saw him barred from the US in June of this year, or if new rules are being introduced in the sporting world which would work against the Manchester-born boxer.

Wilder has doubled down on his prediction that Oleksandr Usyk will beat Anthony Joshua

A decision will soon be made on Fury’s WBC belt, which will not be up for grabs in Saturday’s heavyweight sequel between Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk and Brit Anthony Joshua.

Wilder also confirmed that he was not going to change his mind about his prediction for this weekend’s winner, tipping the 35-year-old to make it back-to-back victories over AJ.

‘I’m going with Usyk in this fight. I’ve said that, and I’m sticking with my word,’ Wilder said.

Wilder’s next fight will be against Finland’s Robert Helenius in New York in October, in his first competitive return since losing to Fury last year.