Recently, explosive headlines ignited across the boxing world over former WBC Heavyweight champion, Deontay Wilder airing his views on Anthony Joshua’s latest trainer changes and questioning the efficacy. He went on further to stoke the rumour mills about his exclusive partnership with Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) and Tyson Fury’s current physical conditioning.
Anthony Joshua, the Brit currently holding the IBF, WBO, and WBA heavyweight titles, is known for seeking out new training methods and trainers, which may not always garner favours from boxing experts. Joshua has been associated with trainer Rob McCracken for a majority of his professional career, but there’s gossip in the air about him changing trainers. This change caught Wilder’s attention who reacted with scepticism.
“A new trainer can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” Wilder told reporters during a recent interview, thereby launching a direct critique at Joshua’s recent decision. The statement reinforces the longstanding rivalry between Joshua and Wilder, adding fuel to the subtle war of words that has been brewing for quite some time.
In a further revelation in the interview, Wilder was questioned about his purported exclusive agreement with PBC. For years, such a partnership has been rumoured but this is the first time Wilder addressed it directly. The rumours would imply that Wilder, if aligned with PBC, would be restricted from fighting boxers backed by other promoters, limiting his match options. However, he refrained from commenting on the same, keeping the boxing world intrigued.
Finally, shedding light on the much-loved heavyweight champion, ‘Gypsy King’ Tyson Fury, Wilder did not shy away from mentioning a contentious episode from their earlier match. It’s claimed that Fury’s form has not been the same since the Wilder match, in which the former was reportedly knocked unconscious. Speculations arose that the ‘Bronze Bomber’ might have ‘broken’ Fury, causing an adverse effect on his performance.
When asked on this subject, Wilder nonchalantly stated, “Hell yeah, I broke him. We all know this.” This remark spawned a wave of discussions between fans and critics about whether Wilder’s handiwork may have marked an end to Fury’s glory days.
However, considering Fury’s recent victory over Wilder in the highly hyped rematch, the doubt lingers on whether Wilder’s claim is true. Some insiders believe that Fury seems to be in better shape now compared to their previous encounters, making Wilder’s claim quite controversial.
There’s always speculation, rumours, and controversy in boxing, but the latest comments from Deontay Wilder have certainly injected further intrigue into the boxing world. Joshua’s trainer changes, Wilder’s PBC exclusivity, and whether Fury has been ‘broken’, are all up for debate. This narrative adds another layer of anticipation and excitement ahead of the upcoming clashes in the ring.
While boxing fans await Wilder’s return to the ring, and watch Joshua stride ahead post his trainer changes, rumours say that Fury is coming back stronger than before. While none can predict the outcome, one thing is certain, the battle lies just as much outside the ring, as it does inside-
And for the boxing world and fervent fans, this simply means more anticipation, more excitement and a great many exhilarating pugilistic showdowns to look forward to.
