Tyson Fury’s trainer Sugar Hill Steward has responded to Deontay Wilder’s claim that his elaborate ring walk costume was to blame for his defeat last Saturday.
Wilder, who reigned in the heavyweight division for five years, suffered the first loss of his career in his rematch with ‘The Gypsy King’ in Las Vegas this past weekend.
Fury’s offense was just too much for the American that his corner, Mark Breland, decided to throw in the towel in the seventh round.
Following the stunning loss, Wilder has dug deep on his bag of excuses, saying his legs were weakened by the 45-pound all-black costume he wore during his ring walk.
“I paid a severe price because my legs were how they were because of my uniform. My uniform was way too heavy,” he said, (per ESPN).
Deontay Wilder loses the first fight of his professional career.
He was 42-0-1 heading into tonight. pic.twitter.com/hJpCXagoud
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 23, 2020
Too Heavy
Continuing, Wilder admitted he was completely done in the third round after Fury sent him down the mat with a shot to the temple because hie ‘legs were gone.’
“It was 40-plus pounds. We had it on 10 or 15 minutes before we even walked out and then put the helmet on.”
“That was extra weight, then the ring walk, then going up the stairs. It was like a real workout for my legs.”
“When I took it off, I knew immediately that game has changed.”
“I really let the designers freelance with it. It was really their idea.”
‘”By the third round, I had no legs. I was completely done. My legs were gone. I had to step into survival mode very early.”
“But you know me — I’m going out on my shield. I’m a fighter. I’m a warrior. That’s what I do.”
Deontay Wilder says he’s exercising his rematch clause for a trilogy fight with Tyson Fury, per @pugboxing.
Wilder adds that his legs were weakened by the 45-pound costume he wore to the ring. pic.twitter.com/ERtlWOVGuM
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 24, 2020
Injured
‘The Bronze Bomber’ drew flak for his recent statements, with boxing fans saying he embarrassed himself by giving the worst excuse of all-time.
Wilder also came up with a conspiracy theory that Breland’s decision to surrender in the seventh round was ‘heavily influenced’ by Anthony Direll, who works with Fury’s trainer.
It didn’t take long for Fury’s camp to respond to the American’s claim as Sugar Hill revealed it was the British boxer who had an injury going into the rematch.
“We had injuries in camp. Tyson hurt his ankles, they were all messed up, he suffered a cut in camp. I think at the beginning his elbow or shoulder was hurt. So Fury’s the one with the injuries,” Steward told Steve Kim.
A third fight between the heavyweight rivals is expected to happen as Wilder exercises his right to an immediate rematch.
🤷♂️ SugarHill Steward on Deontay Wilder’s costume excuse: “We had injuries in camp. Tyson hurt his ankles, they were all messed up, he suffered a cut in camp. I think at the beginning his elbow or shoulder was hurt. So Fury’s the one with the injuries.” [@StevESPNKim]
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) February 25, 2020
(Featured Image Source: YouTube/ ESPN and Behind The Gloves)