Tyson Fury believes weigh-in with Deontay Wilder should be cancelled to prevent violence – but he’s not afraid to retaliate
The Gypsy King is looking to rip the WBC title away from the Bronze Bomber at the Staples Center this weekend
TYSON FURY wants today's face-off with Deontay Wilder axed after their ugly press conference clash — but he won't shy away from another tear-up.
At Thursday's press conference the Gypsy King’s promoter Frank Warren was shoved by the Bronze Bomber and the American's team lurched forward and sparked a scuffle.
Members of Fury’s family, including hulking brother Shane who was on crutches, dashed on to the stage to join the fracas that was eventually cooled.
But a second nose-to-nose meeting is planned for around 9pm UK time today but 30-year-old Fury says bosses should consider cancelling it to prevent any more violence that he is not afraid to retaliate over.
He said: “There should be no face-off at the weigh-in but if it comes to fisticuffs then let’s have it.
“I will not wait until Saturday if he gets in my face before.
“If I provoked then I have to retaliate, hitting me is the worst thing anyone can ever do."
The freshly-shaved 6ft 9in Traveller insisted he was embarrassed by what looked like pantomime theatrics turning X-rated.
Fury apologised for his small part in the debacle and admitted the WBC champ was close to feeling his wrath, were it not for a wise word from his lawyer.
He said: “I am quite embarrassed about what happened on Thursday.
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"It was unsporting conduct with everyone watching around the world and I would like to take the opportunity to apologise on both our behalves. It was not how sportsmen should be.
“It got out of hand but it was two unbeaten fighters who want to win, badly.
"I had my hand cocked to land on his temple and knock him clean out and then it would have gone off.
“He had his boys there but they are not serious. I had my family there and we would have done them in, there and then.
“Wilder’s brother was giving it the big’un and then my brother threw two punches and he ran away.
“This is a serious thing for us, we are not here to act. We are not here to play games or mess around.
“I touched his shoulder because I changed my mind from cracking him.
"He nearly poked me in the eye and scratched my forehead, I wondered if it would be self defence if I cracked him.
"My lawyer said before it started; ‘whatever you do, do not hit him.'"
Fury ripped off his shirt and beat his chest at the start of the melee but seemed to keep his head when everyone around him was losing theirs.
And he insists Wilder was trying to provoke him into throwing an early punch, leading to a huge fine and a possible fight cancellation.
He said: “Deontay Wilder is obviously nervous and rattled and he felt the need to get in my face.
“He’s lucky I did not take his teeth out, I could smell his breath and feel the spit hitting me when he was screaming all that rubbish.
“I was calm but I was thinking about hitting him with a left hook and headbutting him but I knew that is what he wanted.
“I want this fight to be on, I have been waiting for it since 2012. I picked him as my third comeback fight.
"Deontay Wilder is looking for any excuse to get out of this fight now he knows it is on him but I am not going to lose millions of pounds in fines for hitting him, definitely not, I am too clever for that.”
BT Sport Box Office will exclusively show Wilder v Fury on December 1st, available to buy for just £19.95, find out more atwww.bt.com/sportboxoffice.
