Deontay Wilder says Tyson Fury will "try to cheat again" in their heavyweight world title showdown in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Wilder, 35, doubled down on his bizarre claims that Fury broke the rules in their second bout, which the British fighter won convincingly via a seventh round knockout, and alleged he'd have a "masterplan" in place to gain the upper hand this time around.
After their first fight in December 2018 ended in a controversial draw, Fury dominated the 'Bronze Bomber' in their rematch some 14 months later, with the American claiming afterwards that the Briton had tampered with his gloves and was fighting with his fists in an "improper position."
Last November he reiterated his theory, posting a video on social media in which he claimed was evidence Fury was fighting with an “egg-weight sized object” in his gloves.
Fury, 33, and his camp have always laughed off Wilder's claims, and the pair's relationship soured further this year when Wilder took legal action to prevent Fury negotiating his much-anticipated bout with Anthony Joshua.
A subsequent court ruling favoured the American's claim that Fury was obliged to fight him a third time before facing another opponent.
The bout was originally scheduled for September but delayed when Fury tested positive for Covid-19, but now Wilder finally has a chance to settle the score on Saturday.
“You think he ain’t gonna try to cheat this time? Oh they’re thinking, they’re coming up with a masterplan," he claimed.
Wilder had other gripes about his last defeat, attributing in-ring fatigue for the heavy costume he wore for the ring walk, and just days after the bout he promptly fired coach Mark Breland.
“My thing to him – man, you couldn’t even get me out on loaded gloves and the conditions I was under. You couldn’t knock me out, you didn’t knock me out," he added, referring to the fact Fury was awarded victory via TKO.
However, 'The Gypsy King' has said Wilder's excuses have simply made him a "weaker character," and isn't concerned by the claims.
"It makes him less of a man, and less of a fighter. When you get beat, you get beat." he said.
"Lots of fighters have lost fights. Muhammed Ali lost, Mike Tyson lost, but it's what they do after they lose that makes them who they are."
