By Barry Holbrook: Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn was alarmed at how terrible Deontay Wilder’s stamina was in his fight last Saturday night against WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. He says it’s “Not Normal” for the ‘Bronze Bomber’ to have exhausted by the third round.
Hearn isn’t sure what the problem was for Wilder with him looking like he emptied his gas tank so early in the fight, but there’s something wrong.
Should Wilder fire Malik Scott?
For Wilder to be in such poor condition stamina-wise, you’ve got to wonder whether his new trainer Malik Scott skipped over working on his cardio for the fight. If so, Wilder needs to consider getting a new coach because he can’t continue to fight if he’s depleted after two rounds.
The way Wilder looked last Saturday night, he would have lost to almost any top 10 heavyweights in the division.
One would hope that Wilder (42-2-1, 41 KOs) was given an excellent medical check-up before the fight to ensure that his heart was functioning well.
If the stamina problem persists for Wilder, Hearn says it’s going to be difficult for him to fight at the championship level because he can’t be gassing out by the third round.
Deontay wasn’t just sort of tired two rounds, and he was utterly exhausted, and the fight’s pace with Fury wasn’t fast in the opening two rounds.
It was an average pace, primarily because of all the weight Fury (31-0-1, 22 KOs) put on during training camp. Fury weighed 277 lbs, and he looked like he was carrying around an extra 25 lbs of flab on his 6’9″ physique.
Hearn: Wilder’s poor stamina is “NOT normal”
“The drama was incredible,” said Eddie Hearn to iFL TV on the Fury vs. Wilder 3 fight. “Wilder is in a good position [for a big fight].
“I don’t know how much Wilder is going to want it after that because he didn’t look like it at times. He was sitting on his stool, and he was looking like.
“Even after two rounds, he was on his stool like [looking exhausted and done]. So, I don’t know. Fury terrorized him mentally and emotionally.
“That’s the only reason I can think why Wilder can’t stand up after two rounds because Fury exhausts him, and he’s so good at that. He [Wilder] couldn’t stand up.
“More than two rounds, I think three rounds, I thought it was worse. His legs were gone after three rounds. It was only his heart and his power that kept him in the fight.
“Obviously, Fury caught him with a great shot and went down twice. The second one was nothing knockdown, but Fury was still all over the place.
Wilder was exhausted after three rounds
“But Wilder could not stand up, he was exhausted after three rounds, and that’s NOT normal. Some heavyweights have good tanks,” said Hearn.
“Fury’s tank is exceptional, but you can’t just say, ‘That’s how he is.’ You can’t have a championship fight at any kind of pace if you can’t stand up after three rounds,” said Hearn on Wilder’s dreadful conditioning.
It’s disappointing to see Wilder going downhill in his conditioning since his fight with Fury last year. You can only think that his body isn’t meant to carry all the weight that he’s put on since 220.
Throughout most of his career, the thin 6’7″ Wilder has weighed close to 219 lbs. But last year, Wilder bulked up to 231 lbs for his rematch with Fury, and he looked sluggish, slow, and tired from the first round.
By the third, Wilder was exhausted and fighting with his back against the ropes.
At the time, many boxing fans blamed Wilder’s condition on his legs, being tired from his ring walk costume and from him being clubbed in the third round by Fury.
Now, you have to question whether Wilder’s cardio is too poor for him to carry over 230 lbs.
Either way, Wilder may need to switch out his coach Malik Scott and find a trainer that can improve his stamina by getting him to start running and training his heart.
He obviously can’t continue to fight at an elite level if he can’t fight for more than one or two rounds without gassing out.
Deontay showed heart
“But like I said, his [Deontay] heart and his power kept him in the fight and nearly swung the fight at one stage, so you have to give him credit,” said Hearn.
“When was that little spell? The third round or the fourth round when he went down? That was a great couple of rounds, and it was all over the place, but unbelievable drama,” said Hearn.
Wilder’s trainer Malik Scott’s comments on defeat:
“@bronzebomber Ah brother, you already know I will walk with you through any storm and stand by your side regardless of any circumstances, and our bond is forever unbreakable.
“What a memorable night. Big s/o to the Battle Rap Legend, Mr.Healthy AKA @iamloadedlux, for walking us into the battlefield Saturday night.
