LONDON – Deontay Wilder will have surgery on his right hand after his defeat in last weekend’s fight against Briton Tyson Fury, his co-manager told ESPN.
Briton Fury retained his WBC heavyweight title Saturday when he sent American Wilder to the canvas in the 11th round of the Las Vegas bout to close out their trilogy of fights.
Co-manager Shelly Finkel said Wilder was having the procedure on his right hand due to a broken bone.
“He’s still in pain with the hand and his equilibrium was off somewhere around the third round, that’s why his balance wasn’t the same,” said Finkel according to Reuters.
Wilder has previously said he has no plans to retire and in a lengthy social media post wrote that he was taking the defeat in his stride.
“We didn’t get the win but a wise man once said the victories are within the lessons,” said Wilder. “I’ve learned that sometimes you have to lose to win.”
After stopping Wilder for a second straight time. Fury had some choice words for his opponent. In a post-fight interview with BBC’s Steve Bunce, the newly-minted lineal heavyweight champion referred to “The Bronze Bomber” as a “sore loser” and “an idiot.”
“To be a top fighting man, you’ve got to show some respect. And he couldn’t do it tonight,” Fury said.
Fury spoke about it further during the post-fight press conference where he revealed approaching Wilder, only to be met with some antagonism.
“I went over to shake his hand and say, ‘Well done,’” Fury told the media. “And he was, like, ‘No, I don’t respect you.’ I was like, ‘How can you say I’ve cheated when you know in your own heart and your full team knows you just got beat fair and square?’
“He’s just a sore loser in boxing, but I’m sure he’s not the first one and he won’t be the last one. I’ve acted like a gentleman throughout me career and that’s all I can do as a man.”
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