By Charles Brun: Deontay Wilder’s decision to blame his loss to Tyson Fury on his gown being too heavy could taint his career permanently, says promoter Eddie Hearn.
Eddie thinks Wilder made the worst possible move in telling the media that his seventh-round knockout defeat to Fury (30-0-1, 21 KOs) was due to the 45lb ring-walk gown that he wore on the night.
Hearn views Wilder’s excuse as being comparable to David Haye’s little toe excuse that he used to explain away his 12 round decision loss to Wladimir Klitschko in 2011. Haye is still taking heat to this day for that excuse, says Hearn.
Is Hearn jealous of the attention Wilder-Fury 2 received?
Some boxing fans believe that the reason why Hearn is gloating so much right now is he was jealous of the attention the Wilder vs. Fury 2 fight attracted globally. Hearn’s fighter Anthony Joshua was completely forgotten by fans, and he’s still not being talked about much. Hearn has seemed a little too gleeful in kicking sand on Wilder in the aftermath of his loss to Fury.
Former WBC heavyweight champion Wilder (42-1-1, 41 KOs) absolutely believes that his legs were weakened from wearing the heavy gown, and there’s nothing that anyone can say to change that.
Deontay could taint his career with gown excuse
“It’s madness. You’ve got to be careful. This is the type of thing that can taint your career,” said Hearn to IFL TV on Wilder’s excuse about his costume. “Deontay Wilder will NEVER be able to live down his gown excuse. David Haye nine years ago got his little toe out and said that’s why he lost to Wladimir Klitschko.
“People are still stopping him on the street saying, ‘Dave, how’s your toe?’ You don’t make excuses. Joshua could have made 40 excuses. He doesn’t even want to make one. Joshua got criticized for congratulating Ruiz and looking like he wasn’t bothered.
“The gown is the worst move I’ve ever seen. Mark Breland should have stopped it two rounds before. He didn’t want to be there.,” Hearn said of Wilder looking spaced out during the Fury fight.
The gown excuse only taints Wilder’s career if he can’t come back from the loss to Fury, and avenge it in their third fight. If Wilder loses to Fury again, it could very well be curtains for ‘The Bronze Bomber.’ A second straight loss for Wilder will likely result in him being hounded for the remainder of his career about his gown excuse unless he can come back, and do something special.
Fury says he’s going to retire after 2 more fights. If he carries out that threat, Wilder won’t receive much credit if he turns his career around after he walks away from the game.
Hearn wants Fury-Wilder 3 in June or July
“Nobody wants to see Fury-Wilder 3, but we understand he’s got a rematch clause, but don’t string it out to October or November. Get it done in June or July or whenever,” said Hearn.
“If we [Joshua] have to wait or the rematch, then please do the rematch in July because we want that fight in November or December. That fight [Joshua vs. Fury] takes priority over everything. So whenever it can happen, we’re in.
“Dillian is mandatory for February, so that fight [Joshua-Fury] can’t go on into next year. So let’s get it done, and get it made,” said Hearn.
It’s Fury’s promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank who is talking about wanting to delay the third fight with Wilder until October or November. Hearn needs to speak with Arum if he has a problem with that. Wilder says he wants the trilogy against Fury in the summer, and delaying it probably won’t help him.
The most likely reason Arum wants to delay the Fury vs. Wilder 3 fight is to have more time to let it build. By delaying it, some boxing fans will have forgotten about how one-sided the Wilder-Fury 2 match was, and they’ll be more interested in seeing it a third time.