Deontay Wilder emerges from shadows with blame for poor form

Deontay Wilder has again blamed his split with ex-fiancee Telli Swift for his poor form in the heavyweight division.

Wilder says his turbulent private life spiraled out of control to the point where he ‘lost his confidence’ in himself.

The excuse comes after Swift accused the boxer of domestic violence. She says Wilder spat on her and choked her in a temporary restraining order filed as he was in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to face Zhilei Zhang.

After losing to Joseph Parker in his first comeback fight in December 2023, Wilder also blamed his private life before suffering a fifth-round knockout against Zhang as a member of Team Matchroom in the 5 vs 5 tournament. Wilder suffered his fourth loss in four years.

Emerging from the shadows after months of a social media blackout, The Bronze Bomber spoke to the Ariel and Ade Show.

“It was a time in my life when I lost my confidence,” he told DAZN. “Things got so crazy in my life that it altered my mindset.

“I lost confidence in myself, and I never thought I would. [You’ve got to] Be a man, you have to do that. But certain things in your life and certain people around you that you would never think would break your heart. When they do, it changes you.

“I never had hate in my heart, but now I do.”

Alluding to the fact that he now holds hate in his heart for the mother of his child is one thing. However, some fans may never forgive Wilder if Swift’s serious allegations of mental and physical abuse are proven true.

It all began after Wilder struggled to deal with his losses to Tyson Fury in Las Vegas. After his first defeat to Fury, Wilder’s mental health came under question as he blamed several instances, including his trainer, for the loss. He also said his water may have been spiked, but denied blaming a heavy ring walk suit.

She accused Wilder of choking her at least five times and spitting on her several other times, in a TMZ Sports report. Swift also says Wilder ‘once shoved her face into a pillow in a fit of rage for so long, she nearly suffocated.’

The model also stated Wilder invaded her privacy and ‘demanding the pair be intimate at least three times a day,’ in the court document. He was ordered to stay 100 yards away from Swift.

She said, “I believe Deontay is capable of being physically violent towards me upon his return in June because he has expressed that he is furious with me since April and has been physically abusive with me in the past.”

Five months after his loss against Zhang, Wilder spoke out without directly addressing what Swift claimed in the legal papers.

He blamed his losses on personal heartbreak, though, which was a dig at Swift to the same outlet, TMZ.

“I’m handling a lot of things. I have had a lot of outside distractions that I had to get rid of. I took care of a lot of people, but there was just a point where I couldn’t do it anymore.

“But I have got seven kids of my own. I can’t take care of everybody. Even the closest ones to me, I have been betrayed. If anyone knows about betrayal, it’s worse than heartbreak,” he added.

If Wilder cannot take any responsibility for his actions and puts it all down to Swift, he may find it difficult to move on. This latest chapter in his career is clearly a rebuilding job as his opponent, Tyrrell Herndon, is lined up to hand Wilder a knockout return.

He returns June 27 in Wichita, Kansas, before eying a more significant challenge. But whether he can heal without fully acknowledging his part in the split is an entirely different story.

But not one question about the allegations has been asked by any media member after a WBN search.

Sign up for the WBN Newsletter for free and get daily news directly in your email. Never miss a story.

The views expressed in this article are the opinions of Phil Jay. Learn more, and read all articles from the experienced boxing writer.