TYSON FURY has taken credit for Deontay Wilder’s emotional post-fight speech after beating Robert Helenius.
Wilder broke down in tears following his first-round knockout over Helenius in October.
The American cried as he paid tribute to boxer Prichard Colon, who suffered brain damage in the ring.
Fury, who drew and twice knocked out Wilder, reacted by suggesting he was the one who humbled his heavyweight rival.
He told True Geordie: “Maybe I knocked a bit of sense into him and maybe he’s been humbled from the three beatings I gave the sucker.
“He’s a former knockout victim of the Gypsy King.â€
Wilder, 37, was knocked out most recently by Fury, 34, in October 2021 which sparked a year hiatus from the ring.
But the Bronze Bomber returned in trademark fashion by knocking out Helenius, 38, with the first right hand he threw.
Wilder later apologised to the Finn and broke down in the subsequent press conference.
He said: “We’ve seen what happens, look at Colon. How he got hit, Richard Collon, correct.
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“This man didn’t have no kids… they don’t understand. Y’all don’t f****** understand what we go through, man.
“And I don’t even know him like that, but I will always be an advocate for us.
“Because this man will never know what it’s like to be somebody’s father.
“And that’s one of the most precious things in the world, to be somebody’s father. But he will never be nobody’s father, man.
“Because he got in the ring to support his family but now, his family got to take care of him for the rest of his life.
“He was probably the bread winner in his family and now they’re looking and seeking for help and s*** like that.”;
Colon, now 30, suffered life-changing injuries in the ring following defeat to Terrel Williams in 2015.
The former light-middleweight contender was left in a persistent vegetative state following repeated blows he took during the bout.
Wilder – who once claimed he wanted a “body on his record”; – voiced concern for ex-sparring partner Helenius, 38, following his brutal KO.
He said: “I could say so much about it, man. That’s why you can’t play this, this is serious.
“We don’t know if Robert is going to be the same after this. I just did a job.
“I’m great at what I do but I don’t mean to take people away from the lifestyle they’re living. I’m just trying to support my family as well.â€
