By Tim Parsons-
Deontay Wilder, the WBC heavyweight champion has repeated his dangerous claim that the life of his next opponent, Dominic Brezeale is on the line.
The American makes the 7th defence of his World Boxing Council Organisation(WBC) title in a career filled with knock outs . He has amassed 39 knock outs from 41 fights. He and the fellow American he will be facing have bad blood following a physical confrontation they had 2 years ago outside the ring.
Breazeale accused Wilder and his brother of attacking him in the presence of his wife and kids. But Wilder has accused Brezeale of seeking sympathy ahead of their grudge match and told the media he was ”trying to get a body on my record”.
Many find the comment below the belt, but Wilder insists the fact he is legally allowed to kill in the ring makes it an aim he can try to achieve. It could be fight hype, but may also be his intention
The American told reporters on Tuesday:
“This is the only sport where you can kill a man and get paid for it at the same time,” said Wilder. “It’s legal.
“[Breazeale’s] life is on the line for this fight and I do mean his life. I am still trying to get me a body on my record.” “Dominic Breazeale asked for this. I didn’t go seek him. He [sought] me. So if it comes it comes. This is a brutal sport. This is not a gentleman sport.
“We don’t ask to hit each other in the face but we do anyway. And you can ask any doctor around the world, he will tell you, your head is not meant to be hit.
“On this particular time we have bad blood against each other. This is the only sport where you can kill a man and get paid for it at the same time. It’s legal. So why not use my right to do so?”
Wilder’s last fight against Tyson Fury in December 2018 resulted in a controversial draw, after he knocked down the also then unbeaten Brit twice. But Fury got up both times, and survived the last knockdown in the 12th round.
Breazeale, also 33, has lost one of his 21 fights in the hands of Britain’s world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in 2016, who knocked him out in the 7th round. He says he has learnt a lot from that loss and plans to defeat Wilder when the pair meet this Saturday. Brezeale says he is the stronger man with the better skills and will put Wilder into retirement.