Deontay Wilder launched a furious verbal response at a reporter after being asked to explain his racism comments made during Wednesday’s press conference, with the WBC world heavyweight champion seen in a fit of rage as soon as he left the stage.
Wilder’s press conference with opponent Tyson Fury had already been marred by the chaotic scenes witnessed when the two boxers’ entourages clashed, bringing an abrupt end to the planned face-off.
But when Wilder was asked to explain remarks that he made to Fury during their face-off, he immediately flew into a verbal tirade at the reporter, who was also black, claiming that it was up to him to stand up for racial equality too.
Interviewing Wilder next to the stage, SecondsOut video reporter Radio Rahim asked: “You said that your people have been fighting for 400 years, I just wanted you to explain what you mean by that?”
Rahim had barely finished asking the question when an incensed Wilder responded.
“They’re your people too! You know what I’m talking about, you all know what I’m talking about!” Wilder screamed.
“Don’t sit up here and try to bait. Y’all know what the f*** I talk about when I say these things. Your people too.
“I ain’t gotta explain what’s understood, Radio Rahim.
“If ain’t nobody understand that, then God be with them, go look up the history.
“S***, don’t everybody believe in Google? Go Google that s***, see what I’m talking about.”
Wilder then snatched off his glasses before adding: “I dare you to sit up there and (ask me to) explain, you know what I’m talking about. His fighting people, you know what we’ve been fighting for and still fighting for to this day. To this day, to this day!”
Initially, Wilder had used Fury’s claims about gypsies having to fight for their rights for 200 years to press his own argument about the history of black people in the United States.
“You talk about how your people have been fighting for 200 years, my people have been fighting for 400 (years)!” roared Wilder in Fury’s face. “My people have been fighting for 400 (years) and are still fighting today.”
He also claimed that had he gone through the same comeback from drug and mental health problems as Fury has, he would be brandished a “drug addict” and a “terrorist” by the US media.
