Deontay Wilder gave his first interview Sunday since winning an arbitration case that forces Tyson Fury to face him in a July 24th rematch. And to no one’s surprise, the former heavyweight champion of the world had a lot to say.
Wilder did not speak details but made it clear that he feels he has been mistreated both in and out of the ring throughout his ordeal with Tyson Fury. He accuses the boxing community, as a whole, of pretending not to see and hear the injustices that happened to him. The former champ also put Fury and the boxing world on notice that he will be out for blood when the two men step into the ring for the third time.
Wilder has a reputation for using violent imagery when explaining his plans for a future opponent. He did not disappoint fans that enjoy this type of talk. He promised Fury’s mother would not recognize her son after the fight.
The former champ says he enjoyed visions of decapitating Fury since suffering his first loss against the current champion a little more than a year ago. He says he can’t wait until this vision is reality.
Deontay Wilder dispelled the rumors circulating about both his emotional stability and the morale of his team. He says that he is not and has not been depressed since losing to Fury. Wilder says that many of the people reporting he suffered from depression could have called to check on him if they were worried.
The champ addressed rumors that he fired longtime trainer Jay Deas. Much of the speculation is due to training videos showing Deontay Wilder working with new team member Malik Scott. Wilder says that Deas is still a vital part of his team and that the talk of his firing is baseless.
Deontay Wilder is as confident as ever and says that his pride is still intact. He says that the hardships faced in his life prepared him for the adversity that came his way over the past 15 months.
Scott says that he is proud of Wilder’s behavior as a boxer and as a man. A longtime friend of Wilder, he says he always knew the character the former champ possessed. Scott explains that Wilder’s handling of the arbitration case alone is evidence of his warrior spirit. The new Wilder team member characterized the depression talk surrounding Wilder as ridiculous.
Malik Scott also finds a blessing within the Wilder-Fury II post-fight turmoil. The trainer says that Wilder fought a large part of his career injured. Scott believes that Fury could not have survived a fight with Wilder battling similar physical problems. He says the time away from the ring to fight legal battles has allowed the former champion to become healthier than he has been at any point throughout his championship reign.
Deontay Wilder admitted that he felt weak and drained in the moments before the opening bell sounded to begin Wilder-Fury II. He says his pride and the inspiration he can be to others provided him with the motivation to keep fighting.
Deontay Wilder wants the boxing world to know that his career is long from over at 35 years old. He says his physical and mental health is better than it has been in years. The Bronze Bomber also served notice to the boxing world that he plans to pick up where he left off before encountering the first speed bump of his career against Tyson Fury.