The 'Gypsy King' has struggled with his inner demons ever sine dethroning Wladimir Klitschko in 2015

Deontay Wilder has slammed Tyson Fury for using his ‘mental illness thing’ to build his US profile.

The ‘Gypsy King’ returned to the ring in June 2018 after almost two years of inactivity during which he experience depression and substance abuse.

getty images 3 Deontay Wilder has slammed Fury for his use of the ‘mental illness thing’

After admitting he contemplated suicide following his stunning win over Wladimir Klitschko, Fury became a champion for mental health sufferers.

After two warm up fights, the Brit stunned the world by achieving a contentious draw against Wilder in Los Angeles – a fight many felt he won.

Since then, Fury has signed a huge co-promotional deal with Bob Arum and Top Rank which has seen the former unified world heavyweight champion make a successful Las Vegas debut with a stoppage of Tom Schwarz.

But Wilder has slated his former foe for ‘beating a dead horse’ over his stance on mental health.

getty images 3 Tyson Fury successfully made his Las Vegas debut last month

“The only thing he really has to go off of is beating a dead horse with the mental illness thing, that’s it,” the WBC heavyweight champ told 78SportsTV.

“But he’s going to find in America that’s yesterday’s news, that’s an old story, in America we want what’s fresh and what’s new.

“There are millions who have faced this illness.

“It’s a thing that can be overcome, so many people have overcome it, he wants to come up with this story, it’s something he’s holding on to, the mental illness thing is dying out.

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“As you can see in his last fight, it says it all, his story paints itself, it tells its own story.

“It’s pathetic what he’s doing but as long people are entertained he’s going to continue to do it, but once it dies down he may change his ways.”

Fury is looking to have one more fight, preferably in New York later this year, before locking horns with the Bronze Bomber once again.

In fact, the 30-year-old told talkSPORT a deal had been agreed for the pair to fight in February 2020.