Tyson Fury responds to question on ‘racial war’ before Deontay Wilder fight

Fury challenges Wilder once again on Saturday looking to take his WBC title and become a two-time world champion

Tyson Fury insists his rematch with Deontay Wilder “is not a racial war” and played down the influence of Black History Month on the heavyweight title fight.

The WBC champion recently declared the fight in Las Vegas as being culturally significant, while also claiming to be the best African-American boxer in the world.

Wilder even admitted his intention to make Fury “a black history trivia question” by defending his title on Saturday.

“I’m just looking forward to February 22. It’s a great moment in time for me,” Wilder declared. “So many different events are happening, and of course we know it’s Black History Month as well.

“So I’m looking forward to providing my service to my greatness on black history month and like I said, making Tyson Fury a black history trivia question.”

Tyson Fury dismissed the influence of Black History Month on the fight (EPA)

But Fury played down the significance of the annual observance on the fight, as well as refusing to rise to Wilder’s bait.

Fury told Fox Sports 1 show Speak for Yourself: “I’m not into all this racial thing. White man vs Black man. And black history month. I refuse to get into that. This is not a racial war!

“We’re all human beings, it doesn’t matter if you’re black, white, pink or green, we all share the same blood.

“This isn’t a racial war between blacks and whites, it’s a fight between the two highest performing heavyweights on the planet, there’s nothing racial about this fight. I have nothing against Wilder as a man and neither does he against me, but we want to give it to each other.”

Wilder also discussed comparisons between himself and Muhammad Ali before insisting he is focused on being himself.

“People say I’m going to be the next Muhammad Ali, I don’t want to be the next no-one. I am Deontay Wilder,” the WBC champion remarked.

“Do I feel under-appreciated here? Of course. This country is supposed to be so diverse, but this is not one nation. They say we’re one nation under God with liberty and justice, it’s not true.

“Even some of the Americans can be lured into supporting a foreigner rather than their own. That’s how America is built. It will always be difficult, it will always be hard.”