WBC heavyweight champion recently attracted a hailstorm of attention ahead of his scheduled defense against Dominic Breazeale (20-1, 18 Kos) today when he remarked he was looking to get a body on record and made a reference to the fact that this was the only sport where you could kill a man and get paid for it.
Predictably, this remark attracted harsh criticism. Former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis in his Twitter account weighed in by saying: “This isn’t what this sport is about. We aren’t savages. We are pugilists. I understand selling a fight and creating public interest, but we can do better”
WILDER. At the press conference last Saturday, May 18, Wilder (40-0, 39 KOs) was hardly apologetic and said he meant every word.
To me this is just part of a tumultuous build-up to the fight, a natural offshoot of some genuine beef between these two fighters. To recall, the pair were involved in a scuffle in a hotel in 2017.
After the event is over, expect Wilder to apologize or at least acknowledge that his emotions got the better of him.
For the record, I expect Wilder to score a knockout, but not before Breazeale gives a good account of himself for the first six rounds
I don’t think Breazele has the punch resistance to withstand the bombardment, making him susceptible to a 10th-round stoppage.
TIMES. As to what Wilder said—the times, they are indeed a-changing. A couple of decades ago, we recall how Mike Tyson fiendishly threatened to eat Lennox Lewis’ children.
At that time, the casual remark drew more amusement than horror. If that had been uttered today, expect some iteration of a child abuse lawsuit to be filed against Iron Bite.
To put everything into context, let me defer to A.J. Liebling’s “The Sweet Science” (The Viking Press, 1956)--a book which has probably become a cornerstone of fight literature.
Liebling wrote that as Rocky Marciano knocked out the immortal Joe Louis, this was what transpired beside him at ringside.
The tall blonde was bawling, and pretty soon she began to sob. The fellow who had brought her was horrified. “Rocky didn’t do anything wrong,” he said. “He didn’t foul him. What you booing?”
The blonde said, “You’re so cold. I hate you, too.”
HE SAID IT. “This is the only sport where you can kill a man and get paid for it at the same time. It’s legal, so why not use my right to do so?” he said. “His life is on the line for this fight and I do mean his life. I’m still trying to get me a body on my record.”—Deontay Wilder, live interview.
LAST ROUND. It’s on Congressman-elect, 3rd District, Province of Cebu, Hon. Pablo John F. Garcia who celebrates his birthday Sunday, May 19. Cheers!