GettyDeontay Wilder broke his arm just a few weeks before he began training for his fight with Tyson Fury, the American boxer has claimed.
The much-publicised fight in Los Angeles at the Staples Center on Saturday, December 1, ended in a draw, with many believing Fury should have won.
Going into the fight, Fury was the bookies outsider, albeit only just, due to his being out of the ring for over two years before the highly-anticipated fight (aside from two quick warmup fights).
Despite this, the fight ended in a highly controversial draw with many questioning the judging panel’s decision.
It was widely believed that Wilder was behind on points, despite knocking the Gypsy King down twice, but the judges were split on the result.
However, now the American boxer has claimed he broke his arm just 12 weeks before he began training for the fight .
As reported by talkSPORT, Wilder told reporters in LA about the break, explaining that he kept it quiet up until now.
He said:
Twelve weeks before camp I broke my [right] arm. We kept that a secret. I had surgery and everything. All the way up here I got cut.
I was sparring, just getting ready and I was getting the best of my sparring partner. I was going to the body and he turned. His elbow was out. My bones and his elbow went in like a hammer to a nail and it just broke it.
GettyWilder, known as the Bronze Bomber, stated that he does not intend to use this as an excuse now that the fight is over.
However, he did mention that it had a huge impact on his training:
We wanted to keep that sowed up, we don’t make excuses. I barely threw any [right hand] punches my whole entire camp.
It has been confirmed that there will be a rematch between the two boxers, as Wilder took to social media to say he ‘can’t wait’ to fight Fury again, ‘to end the controversial talk around the world once and for all’.
Writing on Instagram, the WBC Heavyweight champion said:
It was an amazing fight and I wanted nothing but greatness to come from this. The fight lived up to the hype more than ever. When you put the best against the best, exciting things happens. [sic] I take nothing away from this fight but we won this fight.
To beat the champion you must dominate the champ and to me I was the more aggressive fighter and landed the more affective punches. You saw the best fury but you did not get the best Wilder and I still managed to get the job done.
He added:
The ref #Jack Reiss is an amazing ref in which I’ve had the pleasure to work with on several occasions and he did a great job and at the end of the day boxing wins, the fans are the real winner and I can’t wait for Wilder Fury 2.
To end the controversial talk around the world once and for all!
GettyA date or official confirmation for the rematch is yet to be decided, but Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, is reportedly looking to stage it at a football stadium in the UK, according to the Mirror.
The contract for the fight is said to have included a rematch clause, and during the post-match press conference, both Fury and Wilder said they wanted to take that opportunity.
Let’s hope we get more than a draw next time, eh?
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A Broadcast Journalism Masters graduate who went on to achieve an NCTJ level 3 Diploma in Journalism, Lucy has done stints at ITV, BBC Inside Out and Key 103. While working as a journalist for UNILAD, Lucy has reported on breaking news stories while also writing features about mental health, cervical screening awareness, and Little Mix (who she is unapologetically obsessed with).