LAS VEGAS − A cryptic video was posted on social media by Deontay Wilder’s former coach, Mark Breland, in response to the heavyweight boxer’s knockout loss on Saturday to Tyson Fury.
Mark was fired by Deontay for throwing in the towel in the seventh round of his second fight with Tyson last February, a bout that came 14 months after the two fought to a controversial split draw.
In their third match, Deontay dropped Tyson twice in the fourth round but floored several times himself during the classic bout that completed their trilogy of fights.
In the 11th round, Tyson put down Deontay for good to retain the WBC heavyweight title he took from the ‘Bronze Bomber’ in their second clash.
Deontay fired the former welterweight champion after that initial rematch for throwing in the towel, suggesting he would rather have been knocked out cold.
That in fact happened at the T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night and Deontay’s former coach has appeared to respond to the result in a social media video he posted on Sunday, where the American is seen shadow-boxing in a ring with the caption: “Great fight”.
Apart from winning two world titles at welterweight during his career as a professional boxer, Mark was a 1984 Olympic gold medallist.
Deontay blamed his 2020 loss to Tyson with unfounded and unproven explanations, from the weight of his own entrance costume to his water allegedly being spiked before the bout.
Following Saturday’s epic meeting in Vegas, Tyson claimed that Deontay again refused to accept defeat gracefully.
“I’m a sportsman,” Tyson said. “I went over to (Deontay) to show some love and respect and he didn’t want to give it back. That’s his problem, I’ll pray for him so God will soften his heart.” – Agencies, October 13, 2021
