Old footage of Tony Bellew and Deontay Wilder’s confrontation resurfaced this week, as the pair went back and forth in the head-to-head battle between Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko in 2017.
Wilder, who commented on the historic heavyweight bout at Wembley, provoked Bellew – with whom he was linked – as the former cruiser class world champion was being interviewed by IFL TV.
“You know what sets me apart from all the other heavyweights? How I beat a mother! Not only did I break my sockets and break bones – I made them fall to the ground.”
However, Bellew only had the first of two stoppage-time wins against David Haye, and was not in the mood to be bullied by the then-WBC world champion, and actually claimed Haye had many possessions. stronger than Wilder.
“I have dealt with someone stronger than you! You’re just a man with two arms and two legs, and my boxing brain is much better than yours.
David is stronger than you!
In the end, a fight between the pair never materialized. Bellew went on to defeat Haye again before losing in the final match to undisputed cruiser class world champion Oleksandr Usyk.
As for Deontay Wilder, fans will not need to mention much while still in the heavyweight scene. The ‘Bronze Bomber’ returned from a year-long break in destructive form last month, stopping Robert Helenius in just one inning in Wilder’s first bout since a knockout defeat to Tyson Fury in their triple battle in 2021.
And Wilder could find himself on the shores of England again in 2023, after Eddie Hearn this week confirmed active talks have been held with Wilder’s manager Shelley Finkel about a potential meeting between two former world champions.
