Deontay Wilder’s coach says ‘damaging’ trilogy ‘changed’ Tyson Fury after lacklustre performance against Francis Ngannou
TYSON FURY has been told his “damaging” trilogy series with Deontay Wilder has “changed” him.
The heavyweights first shared the ring in 2018, with Fury being dropped twice but still being deemed unfortunate to walk away with a draw.
They rematched two years later with Wilder this time tasting the canvas before being stopped in round seven.
The rivals arguably saved the best till last with their October 2021 trilogy, which Fury won after being dropped twice and scoring three knockdowns himself.
But after being floored by ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou and walking away with a controversial points win, Wilder’s coach Malik Scott insisted the trilogy has taken its toll.
Scott told FightHype: “Even Fury believes the Deontay Wilder fights changed him.
“You don’t have three fights with Wilder and it doesn’t change you. Every fight he’s had with Deontay, these weren’t one or two-round fights.
“He’s gone over 24 rounds with the hardest puncher in the history of the sport.
“People are highlighting the times he got knocked down, but what about the punches he was taking in the fight, taking good shots and coming back.
“Those shots are damaging too.”
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Fury, 35, now approaches the biggest fight of his career for the undisputed crown against Oleksandr Usyk, 36.
The historic first ever four-belt unification was set for December 23 but having been given the fight of his life against Ngannou, 37, it has been delayed till February.
And Scott believes the Gypsy King is on the decline as he said: “He’s 35 years young but to me Fury has put a lot of wear and tear on his body.
“Not just the Deontay fights, early on in his career he took damage in the first [Derek] Chisora fight, he was knocked down with [Steve] Cunningham.
“The gym, he’s always had high-quality sparring. He’s 35 but father time is undefeated.”