Las Vegas (United States) (AFP)

"I am the greatest fighter of my time," said Tyson Fury after retaining his WBC heavyweight title against Deontay Wilder, refusing to compare himself to the greatest boxers in history, before however placing himself "at the top of the battery".

Q: Tell us how you experienced this fight, which many consider to be one of the greatest in heavyweight history?

A: "It was a very close clash, which could have turned from one side to the other. But even when the games seemed done, I always kept my word, 33 times in a row (he is undefeated in as many of fights, 1 draw against Wilder in their first fight, note). I never gave up. I trained hard, I gave everything and I won. I hit him with a smashing right to the temple and hits like that, it ends careers. And I just hope he's okay. I really gave him a hard time tonight. "

Q: When he knocked you all in in Round 4, were you worried it was over?

A: "If you miss your shot when you play with fire, you burn yourself. I had three fights with the greatest slugger in the history of my category. He had me twice. But I didn't. I never said + oh oh, it's over +. I thought + ok, a good shot cashed, but I'll get you back in a minute +, and I did. He shook me and me took down, but that's boxing. And that's life too - no matter how many times you get knocked down, it's all about getting up. "

Q: What words did you have for Wilder after this titanic fight?

A: "We fought like two warriors. I went to shake his hand to say + bravo + and he replied + no, I don't respect you +. So I said + but how can you say that I cheated (the American had accused him of having ballasted his gloves during the previous fight, editor's note) when you know deep in your heart that you were beaten fairly? +. a sore loser or what? I've behaved like a gentleman throughout my career and that's all I can do. "

Q: Where do you fit in the heavyweight pantheon?

A: "I've always been one of those people who thinks that you can't fight against the champions of the past. So I never disrespect any of them. I can only beat the people of my time. and I've been doing it all my life. I don't like to pit myself against fighters from the past because it's a fantasy, not reality. Let's just say I'm the best fighter of my time and can't beat than the best of my time. And that's what I do. "

British heavyweight Tyson Fury just knocked out American Deontay Wilder to retain his WBC title in Las Vegas on October 9, 2021 Ethan Miller Getty / AFP

Q: Who do you admire in heavyweights?

A: "There is a long line, going back to John L. Sullivan, Jack Dempsey, Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, Mohamed Ali, George Foreman, Ken Norton, Joe Frazier, the Klitschko brothers. There have been so many. great champions. Without wanting to be smart, I put myself at the top of the pile. I think I can beat anyone in the story. After that, there's always a way to beat Tyson Fury, but that is knocking me out. "

Q: A unification fight against Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk is now possible ...

A: "We'll see. I'll take a well-deserved break, before I think about fighting again. I'm going to savor my win. Because it's one of my best. I wanted a knockout. Wilder is a tough guy. He had the heart to go on and got severely punished tonight. Me too, I took a lot of abuse. It was a big fight. "

Interview at a press conference

© 2021 AFP