DEONTAY WILDER knows his ‘career is on the line’ against Tyson Fury and defeat leaves him ‘no longer among the elite’, his ex-promoter said.
Wilder is on the comeback trail having been dethroned of the WBC title by Fury in February 2020.
It leaves him one win away from sweet redemption but all at the risk of suffering another crushing loss at the hands of his heavyweight rival.
Wilder’s former co-promoter Lou DiBella argues his trilogy fight against Fury on July 24 is an almighty roll at the dice.
DiBella told SecondsOut: “Look, his career is on the line, and he knows it.
“I mean, if he gets smoked again by Fury, where does he go? He’s no longer among the elite in the heavyweight division.
“So whatever he wants to do right now to carry him into the fight with the greatest confidence and personal peace is probably what he should be doing.”
Wilder, 35, initially drew with Fury, 32, in 2018 but was beaten in devastating fashion two years later in their rematch.
They were contracted to a trilogy bout but amid the coronavirus pandemic it was continuously delayed.
Fury then tried to walk away from the immediate rematch to instead enter talks for an undisputed title decider with Anthony Joshua, 31.
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But Wilder took the dispute to arbitration and was later awarded the victory, setting up his date with destiny.
The American recently posted a video weight lifting where he urged Fury ‘get your weight up’ as he trained alongside new coach Malik Scott.
Having been firstly outboxed and then outmuscled in the rematch, DiBella admitted Wilder’s best chance in the trilogy is to come in stronger.
He said: “He’s obviously getting himself into shape to be strong for this fight, so I’m not going to get on him for the video.
“I think his strength is his best hope. He’s not outboxing Tyson Fury. He’s not. And he’s either knocking him out or beating him up.
“It’s virtually impossible to see him outboxing him, so physical strength is probably an important component for him.
“If he’s to win the fight by knockout if his puncher’s chance is to come through, his head has to be in the right place.
“So if part of this stuff that looks weird by Malik and the people around him to get his head in the right space, then it’s probably smart.
“You can get hurt by lifting a lot of weight with bad form.
“That being said, getting your head right if you’re Deontay Wilder, it’s hugely important right now.”
