Tyson Fury has responded to Deontay Wilder's claim he a cast "gypsy spell" ahead of their first WBC heavyweight title fight in 2018.
The first instalment of Fury vs Wilder was an absolute classic, in which the former picked himself off the canvas twice to avoid defeat.
The hard-hitting Wilder was bamboozled by Fury's recoveries from the brutal knockdowns, which he attributed to "gyspy" magic during an appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience Podcast.
Fury gave his thoughts on Wilder's assertion in his new book, The Furious Method, in which he vehemently denied any conjuration taking place before their first meeting.
“When Joe Rogan interviewed Wilder on his podcast after our first fight, Wilder said he thought I’d put some kind of gypsy spell on him," the former unified heavyweight champion wrote.
“As far as I know, I don’t possess much in the way of spells (though my Irish grandmother was a fortune teller).
“What’s clear is that I had got into his head and shook his self-confidence by repeatedly telling him I was going to drop him in the second round.
“I planted that seed in his mind and uttered it so frequently in the run-up to the fight he got spooked and started believing it himself.”
Fury and Wilder - 32 and 35 respectively - renewed their rivalry in February in Las Vegas, with the WBC heavyweight title once again on the line.
Fury put on a tactical masterclass against the devastating knockout puncher, putting him on the back foot from the get-go and ending the contest via seventh-round TKO.
Wilder was supremely confident going into his ill-fated eleventh title defence, although Fury didn't see any of that confidence in the final moments before their second dance.
“Wilder seems stiff, even tense behind the mask," 'The Gypsy King' wrote when recalling that triumphant night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
“Andy Lee, my cousin and number two coach, was in his dressing room earlier to check that his wraps were correctly applied… Andy said it was tense and quiet in there, as opposed to the positive vibes in my room.
“Apparently, you could have cut the atmosphere with a knife.”
Fury is expected to be back in action on December 5 against Agit Kabayel.
