Deontay Wilder Considers Firing Trainer After Tyson Fury Loss, Says He Would 'Rather Die in the Ring' Than Have Towel Thrown In
Deontay Wilder has suggested he would rather "die in the ring" than have one of his trainers throwing in the towel, as was the case against Tyson Fury on Saturday.
With the Bronze Bomber unsteady on his legs and bleeding from his left ear, Wilder's assistant trainer Mark Breland threw in the towel at the 1:39 mark of the seventh round to spare his man further punishment.
Far from being grateful to Breland, Wilder has warned his team that "there will be consequences" for the decision, which sealed his first defeat in 44 professional bouts.
"I've told them many times that if anyone throws the towel in on me, there will be consequences," the Alabama native told The Athletic in a wide-ranging interview on Monday.
"I'd rather die in the ring than have the towel thrown in. I'm a warrior. If I say I'm going in there to try to kill a man, I accept that in return he will have to kill me as well."
Shortly after Breland threw in the towel, Wilder leaned on the ropes and was seen questioning his trainer's decision.
"We had many discussions for years about this situation and for him to still do it after Jay [Deas, Wilder's main trainer] told him not to, Jay is the first. Mark did it anyway. It really hurt me," the former WBC heavyweight champion told the Associated Press.
"Then I heard he was influenced by another fighter in the audience and it makes a lot of conspiracy theories in your head. It didn't make sense."
Wilder arrived in Las Vegas for the rematch against Fury on the back of 41 knockouts in 42 professional wins and 10 successful defenses of his WBC heavyweight belt.
The American, however, was on the back foot from the opening bell, with Fury adopting a much more attacking approach than he had in the first fight in Los Angeles 15 months ago.
In the third round, Wilder hit the canvas for the first time in almost 10 years, after being hit by a smashing right hand to the temple.
The American had last been knocked down by Harold Sconiers nearly a decade and some 30 fights ago, before recovering to win by KO.
A repeat of that scenario never looked likely at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, with Wilder floored again in the fifth round by a clubbing body shot from Fury.
The Briton continued his methodical assault in the sixth round, working Wilder's body before moving upstairs as he picked off his opponent at will.
By the time Breland threw in the towel in the seventh round, the Bronze Bomber was bleeding from his mouth and looked to be struggling to stay on his feet.
Wilder missed the post fight press conference as he was taken to hospital for medical checks and received stitches in his ear.
Meanwhile, the dethroned WBC champion said a rematch with Fury is "definitely going to happen".
The 34-year-old has 30 days to officially exercise his option for a third fight, which would see him pocket 40 percent of the purse, with the remaining 60 going to Fury.
"We're going to get it on," he added. "I want to get right back to it."
Speaking after the fight on Saturday, the Briton said he expected his opponent to demand a third bout and suggested it should be held at the Allegiant Stadium "in front of 70,000 fans," referring to the new home of the Las Vegas Raiders.
"He is a warrior," Fury said. "He will be back. He will be champion again. I know he is a warrior and I'll be waiting.
"The spoils of war have just happened. Deontay needs time to recover but I'm almost sure he will take a rematch. I'm pretty sure we'll do it again, if he wants to. If he doesn't want to [...] whoever's next will get the same treatment."
