DEONTAY WILDER insists he is a changed man. He suffered a heavy loss in his second fight with Tyson Fury in February of last year. As well as forcing his contracted third Fury fight, now rescheduled for October 9, to take place, he has made significant changes to his team. Trainer Mark Breland, who was praised by everyone except Wilder for throwing in the towel against Fury, has been sacked and sparring partner Malik Scott elevated to main trainer.
The last time Wilder appeared before the media he barely engaged. But with this third fight delayed yet again, the demeanour of the American heavyweight, speaking to the press on Wednesday, was almost wholly different.
โI feel amazing. Itโs past good or great. This time that has passed has been great for me. With the more time thatโs passed, the more that weโve been able to work on different little things and perfect them. You canโt always be perfect, but that doesnโt mean you canโt train to be perfect,โ he said. โMalik Scott is a wonderful person and trainer. We met years ago sparring with Tomasz Adamek. We clicked right away and weโve formed a real bond and brotherhood. I have so much love around me in this camp, that Iโm not dwelling on anything negative.
โWeโre having fun while learning and creating things together during training camp. Thatโs just the passion that we have to become two-time heavyweight champion of the world. [Fury and Wilder will fight for the WBC belt at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.]”
โIโm super focused. Iโm more focused now than Iโve even been in my entire career. This is the second phase of my career. I had fun winning and defending the title for five years. At this point, weโre just serious about everything. Iโm in a happy place and Iโm glad that Iโm here,โ he continued. โThey say that things happen for a reason and that we donโt understand that reason until we get to a certain place in life, then we understand it. My whole team understands everything that has happened and weโre looking forward.โ
This third fight has been put back repeatedly. The July date, after both teams had gone through an arbitration to make it happen, was scrapped after Fury tested positive for Covid. But Wilder insists the changes havenโt unsettled him. โThe delay was actually a blessing for me. The more they delayed it, the more time we had to work on my craft and art, along with strategically going over the game plan weโre going to have on October 9. It was obviously frustrating, because I was ready to go, and this is the longest Iโve been out of the ring. Thereโs something about the ring that calls you and draws you back. But Iโve used the time and benefited tremendously,โ he said. โThis has hands down been the best training camp Iโve had in my entire career. Sometimes you need events to happen in life to bring about changes that you need. Weโve had no distractions and Iโm just in a happy state mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.
โYouโre looking at a rejuvenated and reinvented Deontay Wilder. The old Deontay is no longer there. I canโt explain it to you, I have to show you on October 9. Iโm looking forward to it and I canโt wait.โ
Deontay Wilder promises he’ll be a new man in third Tyson Fury fight

John Dennen
Sep 23 2021