Current:Home > ScamsDeontay Wilder's dad has advice for son after loss to Zihei Zhang: Fire your trainer-InfoLens
Deontay Wilder's dad has advice for son after loss to Zihei Zhang: Fire your trainer
View Date:2024-12-23 15:50:55
Deontay Wilder’s father said he has advice for the boxer following his devastating, fifth-round knockout loss to Zhihei Zhang.
Fire your trainer.
Malik Scott was friends with Deontay Wilder before taking over as his trainer in 2021. Since then, the former WBC heavyweight champion is 1-3.
“You need somebody you’re going to respect,’’ Gary Wilder told USA TODAY Sports. “You don’t need a buddy to train you.''
Though Deontay Wilder, 38, indicated he would give retirement serious consideration if he lost to Zhang, Gary Wilder said “it’s not too late for (Deontay). I believe he got several good years left.’’
Shelly Finkel, Deontay Wilder’s co-manager, told USA TODAY Sports by text that “we really have nothing to say.’’ He later said Gary Wilder is not involved in Deontay Wilder's boxing career.
Gary Wilder said he has seen his son less since Scott replaced Mark Breland. But he said he attended Deontay's third fight against Tyson Fury in 2021 at his son's request — Deontay Wilder's mother confirmed that — and spent time in training camp before his son's fight against Joseph Parker in December 2023.
Scott, when asked about Gary Wilder's comments, replied by text, "... who is Gary?'' He later added, "No comment.''
During the four-fight stretch working with Scott, Deontay Wilder has lost to Fury by knockout, to Joseph Parker by unanimous decision and to Zhang by knockout. His lone win was a first-round knockout against Robert Helenius.
Gary Wilder said his biggest beef with Scott is his attempt to develop Deontay Wilder into more of a traditional boxer.
“Deontay’s always been a slugger,’’ Gary Wilder said. “Now Malik’s trying to train him to be a boxer, and if you look at it, you’ll see that Deontay is not comfortable where he at. As long as he tries to be a boxer, he’s not going to win.
“That’s the bottom line.’’
Gary Wilder said he has not communicated with Deontay Wilder since the fight Saturday in Saudi Arabia, but that he plans to share his advice when they talk next.
Deontay Wilder’s record stands at 43-4-1 with 42 knockouts, one of which came against Scott. In 2014, Wilder knocked out Scott in the first round.
veryGood! (99)
Related
- Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin to kick off fundraising effort for Ohio women’s suffrage monument
- These Internet-Famous October Prime Day 2024 Deals Are Totally Worth the Hype & Start at $3
- Beyoncé and Jay-Z's Attorney Slams Piers Morgan Over Airing Diddy Comparisons in Interview
- Opinion: Harris' 'Call Her Daddy' podcast interview was a smart way to excite her base
- Nearly 80,000 pounds of Costco butter recalled for missing 'Contains Milk statement': FDA
- How Waffle House helps Southerners — and FEMA — judge a storm’s severity
- Why Ana Huang’s Romance Novel The Striker Is BookTok's New Obsession
- The 2025 Met Gala Co-Chairs—And the Exhibition Name—Revealed
- Charles Hanover: A Summary of the UK Stock Market in 2023
- Hmong Minnesotans who support Tim Walz hope to sway fellow Hmong communities in swing states
Ranking
- Catholic bishops urged to boldly share church teachings — even unpopular ones
- Beyoncé and Jay-Z's Attorney Slams Piers Morgan Over Airing Diddy Comparisons in Interview
- Shop Prime Day 2024 Beauty Deals From 52 Celebrities: Kyle Richards, Sydney Sweeney, Kandi Burruss & More
- Michigan Woman Eaten by Shark on Vacation in Indonesia
- Travis Kelce's and Patrick Mahomes' Kansas City Houses Burglarized
- 5 must-know tips for getting a text, call through after a big storm: video tutorial
- Melinda French Gates will give $250M to women’s health groups globally through a new open call
- Acting or hosting, Travis Kelce wants to continue to pursue a showbiz career. But first, football
Recommendation
-
Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia Explains Why She’s Not Removing Tattoo of Ex Zach Bryan’s Lyrics
-
A Celebration of Bella Hadid's Riskiest Looks: Sheer Dresses, Catsuits and Freeing the Nipple
-
Voters in the US don’t directly elect the president. Sometimes that can undermine the popular will
-
Not Sure How To Clean a Dishwasher or Washing Machine? These Pods are on Sale for $15 & Last a Whole Year
-
J.Crew Outlet Quietly Drops Their Black Friday Deals - Save Up to 70% off Everything, Styles Start at $12
-
Ethel Kennedy, widow of Robert F. Kennedy, suffers stroke
-
NFL Week 6 odds: Moneylines, point spreads, over/under
-
Michael Keaton Reveals Why He’s Dropping His Stage Name for His Real Name