By Gabriel Princewill-
The World Boxing Council (WBC) has been told to address their world champion, Deontey Wilder and their mandatory challenger for below the belt disrespect on each other’s children. The Eye Of Media.Com has written to WBC president, Jose Sulemain, asking him to get his house in order, and implement reasonable codes of conduct for boxers fighting under the WBC’s jurisdiction. The WBC has not yet responded to our mail.
The tense exchange of language arose after it emerged that Deontey Wilder, 40-0(39) planned to sideline Breazeale and take on Britain’s huge and unbeaten fighter, Tyson Fury. Fury and Wilder’s teams are in serious talks for a November showdown in Las Vegas, one that will displace the previous interest that was buzzing for a unified title showdown between three belt holder Anthony Joshua and Deontey Wilder. Responding to goading from Breazeale for Wilder to take him on, the WBC heavyweight world champion told Fight Hype:
”My mind is already made up on the Breazeale fight, and, when it do happen, imma make sure he brings his son on the stage to look the man in the eye that’s gonna cripple his daddy,” . The comment was harsh and unnecessary, not the sort expected from world champions expected to be role models to impressionable children and youths who may hold him in high regard as hard core fans. Unbeaten Wilder was sending a profoundly soul piercing message to his rival about his intentions towards him. That message was that he would hurt him badly when they meet, and it wouldn’t be a pretty sight for his son.
Breazeale at 6ft 7 inches is himself a big heavyweight, and has since been stepped up to the position of mandatory challenger on the WBC’s hierachical ranking structure. However, after talks with Anthony Joshua fell by the wayside, Breazeale hoped to get his opportunity next, until Tyson Fury and his team expressed interest. Wilder quickly appreciated the greater remunerations to be generated from such a big fight against Fury, who became the first man to end Wladimir Klitschko’s unbeaten 11 year reign in 201
SCATHING
Breazeale’s response was far more scathing and wholly insensitive, ostensibly meant to be a fitting response for Wilder’s unscrupulous comments. The 32 year old last week hit back saying: ‘you ain’t sh*t’.“Wider, you ain’t sh*t. For one man to talk about another man’s son and to talk about crippling a man in the ring, you ain’t nothing,” ranted Breazeale.
“You got the heavyweight championship, that’s about it. Outside of that: Two wives, three girlfriends, three kids you know about, a disabled child, kinds of the side, your life is all f***ed up.
“You want to come at me with some bullsh*t. Be a man, step up, get the paperwork done, send the contract over. You and I, we can square this”. Rhetoric like these are unacceptable and reprehensible, not for the sport of boxing in any shape or form. Hard fighting talk is an inherent part of the sport, but there is a consensus among boxing writers and boxing organisations that language like this is abhorrent. Wilder has a disabled daughter and it was extremely foolish and inconsiderate of Breazeale to deem it fitting to directly make reference to her despite, Wilder’s misguided comments.
Wilder’s claim that he would cripple Breazeale, though imprudent, was a figure of speech. Breazeale should have exercised greater discretion and refrained from stooping so low. Had a similar exchange of insults been displayed by British fighters, the pair would have been hurled before the British Board of Governors, yet no similar reprimand by any regulatory board is known to have been given to the pair for their acrimonious language. If there are no plans for such reprimand, it would question the integrity of boxing chiefs in the U.S.
Head of British Boxing Board of Governors, Robert Smith, told The Eye Of Media.Com: ”Deontey Wilder and Dominic Brezeale are not licensed British boxers, and if they were to fight in Britain, we would expect them to behave. We have codes of conduct we expect all boxers to abide by”.Smith indicated that Tyson Fury may be spoken to or disciplined for recent comments in which he told Eddie Hearns to sxxx my hairy bxxxs. Wilder will be ringside for Tyson Fury’s weekend fight against Francesco Pianetta. The American’s team was contacted for comment, but declined saying ” we won’t get into this”.