Skip Bayless built a career on his willingness to form an opinion and incessantly stick by that opinion — no matter how wrong or misguided it may be over time.
That even applies to something as minuscule as an incorrect sports prediction.
Ahead of Saturday’s heavyweight championship rematch between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury, Bayless made the pre-fight prediction of Wilder winning by knockout. It was a totally reasonable stance to take, considering Wilder’s track record as a knockout specialist. And Bayless clearly thought that Wilder would be in position to finish off the job from 2018’s near-knockout in the first meeting’s draw.
But it became increasingly clear as the fight unfolded that Wilder was in huge trouble. He was bleeding from the ear, wobbly on the legs and lost his equilibrium. Bayless didn’t care. Just in hopes of defending his bad sports prediction, Bayless tweeted through it. He wanted Wilder to remain in the fight because he nearly knocked Fury out in the 12th round of the first fight.
Then, it got gross.
Bayless doubted whether Wilder was even hurt. According to Bayless, the fact that Wilder wasn’t immediately rushed to the hospital meant that Wilder deserved to continue fighting … despite losing the ability to manufacture his KO power and defend himself against Fury.
There was even the always-responsible take prefaced by “I’m not his doctor.”
Bayless still stood by the take even as Wilder was taken to the hospital.
Just in 2019, there were four recorded deaths from professional boxing matches. And according to CNN, there’s an average of 13 annual deaths sustained from boxing-related injuries. Wilder’s corner recognized that their fighter was approaching dangerous territory and made the professional decision to stop the fight — it honestly could have stopped rounds earlier.
Bayless essentially rooted against (and then speculated about) Wilder’s health just so he could be right about something on Twitter. It was Bayless at his worst.
