Coach blames defeat on ‘heavy’ pre-fight costume

Jay Deas has partially attributed Deontay Wilder’s defeat to Tyson Fury on the costume he wore during his ring walk, reports express.co.uk. Wilder’s five-year reign as WBC heavyweight champion came to an end in the early hours of yesterday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The Olympic bronze medallist suffered a seventh-round TKO defeat to ‘The Gypsy King’, with the American’s corner mercifully throwing in the towel at the 1:36 mark.

True to his word, Fury took the fight to the former champion from the outset, bamboozling him with constant feints which repeatedly paved the way for him to land his right hand.

Officially, Wilder was knocked down twice in the contest, with the first knockdown bursting his eardrum and wreaking havoc with his equilibrium.

As the contest wore on, Wilder – who weighed in at career-heavy 231lbs – was soon overcome by fatigue, though he battled valiantly until his wisely corner called a halt to proceedings.
And Deas firmly believes the 34-year-old’s energy reserves were somewhat drained by the jewel-encrusted black suit he wore on his way to the ring.

“His legs didn’t look great to me early on. I didn’t think his legs look like they normally look,” Deas told Boxing Social. “I know he came to the ring in the outfit, which was very heavy.

“I don’t know if that had anything to do with it. Tyson’s a lot of weight to be putting on you as well.

“I don’t know all the answers yet but once I see the film, I’ll know more.”

A crestfallen Wilder partially attributed his first professional defeat to some pre-existing problems but was quick to give Fury his just dues.

“The best man won on the night,” a dejected Wilder said in his post-fight interview. “My coach threw in the towel but I’m ready to go out on my shield.

“I had a lot of things going on coming into this fight but it is what it is.

“I just wish my corner would have let me go out on my shield, I’m a warrior. But [Fury] did what he did and there’s no excuses.”