WBN analyzed Deontay Wilder’s mindset before the American’s first career defeat at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
A quick look at the pre-fight notes for Fury vs. Wilder II indicated the former champion’s mindset.
Wilder was walking into seven painful rounds at the MGM Grand in 2020. Pre-fight, he was asked point-blank if he knew what was coming from Tyson Fury on fight night.
Unaware of the juggernaut heading his way, Wilder believed his rival could not back up his words despite numerous warnings from the man himself.
Putting his WBC heavyweight title on the line against Fury for the second time, Wilder made no compensation for the time that elapsed between their two bouts. Fury was amid his comeback from oblivion in December 2018 when they fought to a draw.
Deontay Wilder mindset
‘The Gypsy King’ was a much different animal fifteen months later after two more warm-up victories. When Fury entered the ring to Patsy Cline’s ‘Crazy’ following an underwhelming fight card, he was on a mission.
Wilder was stunned by the first left hook that landed. The heavyweight champion, finally finding his Pay-Per-View dance partner, was in deep trouble.
The only problem was, he didn’t know it at the time.
Asked before fight week if he was worried about Fury’s knockout intentions, Wilder was as non-plussed as he was oblivious.
Wilder vs Fury 2
He said: “I really don’t know what their plans are, what he’s going to do, or what he’s not going to do.
“I don’t know what is true about what he’s saying [second-round knockout] and what is not true. I know that I’m prepared for anything he brings to the table.”
Wilder gave some insight into how his training camp had gone, admitting he may have overtrained for the February 22 date.
“I’m overly prepared for whatever. So if you want to bring the fight, then come on. Let’s make it happen. That’ll benefit me more than anything, him coming full at me.
“So I hope they stick with that game plan and follow it through. And that they aren’t just talking for hype. Do what you say you’re going to do. I’m looking forward to it.”
Wilder continued: “If he does that, it will make the fight that much more interesting. It will hype the fight up even more. So we’ll see what happens.
“Deep down in his heart, I really feel that he’s nervous. I really think that he’s very, very nervous from the first time what happened.
Concussion
“When you knock a person down and give him a concussion, you never forget that. You never forget who did it to you and how they did it.
“When you crawl back in the ring with him a second time to relive that moment all over again, there has to be stress. You definitely can’t sleep at night.
“If anybody should be changing up anything, you would think it would be me. Since he’s saying, he beat me by a wide margin. But that’s not even the case. He knows the truth, and I’m looking forward to it.
“So I hope he’s a man of his word because I’m every bit a man of my word, and February 22 should be a sign for all of us.”
In the end, Wilder looked helpless at times as Fury mauled him from the off. The Briton ripped away his green and gold belt as Wilder suffered a concussion before laying blame elsewhere.
This was only the start for Deontay Wilder; his decline has already been discussed in several forums. His age is also a concern, as he may return in the future.
The Fury loss was a glimpse of what would come as Wilder lost three of his next four bouts, one more to Fury in the 2022 trilogy fight. After beating Robert Helenius, Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang inflicted yet more pain.
Wilder is now seen as damaged goods, as his dream of having one face and name in the division went to the divisional king, Oleksandr Usyk.
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Read all articles and exclusive interviews by Phil Jay. Learn more about the author, an experienced boxing writer and World Boxing News Editor since 2010. Follow on Twitter @PhilJWBN and Quora.
