A former long-reigning world heavyweight champion has announced he has split from his trainer just days before his scheduled return.
Deontay Wilder is on the verge of making his long-awaited return to the ring when he faces countryman Tyrrell Herndon on Friday June 27 at the Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas.
The 39-year-old from Tuscaloosa, Alabama has not fought since he suffered a crushing fifth round knockout defeat to China’s Zhilei ‘Big Bang’ Zhang last June, making it four defeats in the last five outings for ‘The Bronze Bomber’.
As he prepares to enter what may well be the final chapter of his storied professional career, Wilder has now spoken out and clarified the situation surrounding whether his trainer Malik Scott will be in his corner on fight night.
In an interview with the Montgomery Independent, ‘The Bronze Bomber’ confirmed that he has officially parted ways with Scott, just days before he makes his comeback.
“We’re brothers, and always will be brothers. We talk all the time and there’s nothing bad between us. Sometimes things change and this was one of those times.”
In a separate interview with TMZSports, Wilder vowed to regain a version of the heavyweight championship in the future, as he claims he is ‘coming back for the belts’.
“I’m coming back for all the belts, you know the heavyweight division I brought it back years ago in 2015 and I’m gonna bring it back again.
I’m taking him seriously, we’ve got a lot of fights lined up for this year, two for sure but three maybe. It’s going to be a great fight whilst it lasts but this warm up, tune up, I’m taking it serious and once completing the task then we move on into the limelight of the bigger and better fights. This is the tester.”
Should he come through his bout against Herndon unscathed, Wilder could go on to face either Jarrell Miller or two-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, with both fighters said to be interested in a showdown with the 39-year-old.
