DEONTAY WILDER prepared to face Tyson Fury by training with a 45lb vest on during his sprinting sessions.
But just weeks later the Bronze Bomber complained his ring walk costume – which weighs the exact same – weakened his legs before fighting the Gypsy King.
Deontay Wilder trains in a 45lb weight vestCredit: BT Sport
Wilder sprints with the additional weight before his rematch against Tyson FuryCredit: BT Sport
Wilder used the same weight vest before his first fight with Fury
Wilder, 34, was battered and bossed during the seven round beating, twice being floored, before his assistant trainer Mark Breland threw in the towel.
The former WBC king insisted he would make no excuses as Fury broke his unbeaten record – before days later blaming his 3STONE ring walk costume for the loss.
But in a 2018 interview with Joe Rogan, Wilder explained how he trains with a 45lb vest to sharpen his fast twitch muscles, which helps enhance explosive power.
He said: “We wanted to activate the fast twitch muscles with rapid speed so if I do anything that consists of me moving my feet it’s sprinting.
“I wear a 45lb vest during all my exercises and everything that I do, to have that extra weight on me.”
Just before his rematch with Fury, BT Sports released footage of Wilder performing sprint drills with speed and agility coach Joey Scott in Tuscaloosa.
Brit heavyweight Dillian Whyte posted a clip of the interview on Instagram and wrote alongside it: “There you go @bronzebomber no surprise you lying coward #excuses #fraud #ChicKeNLeGs
Similarly before the first fight – which ended in a draw – the Bronze Bomber is seen with the same weighty vest on as he sprints and shadow boxes.
Despite his experience in training with the additional 45lb, the 34-year-old is adamant his ring walk costume affected his performance against Fury.
Wilder told Yahoo Sports: “I didn’t have no legs from the beginning of the fight. In the third round, my legs were just shot all the way through.
“It could easily be told that I didn’t have legs or anything. A lot of people were telling me, ‘It looked like something was wrong with you.’ Something was, but when you’re in the ring, you have to bluff a lot of things.
“I tried my best to do so. I knew I didn’t have the legs because of my uniform.
“I was only able to put it on [for the first time] the night before but I didn’t think it was going to be that heavy. It weighed 40, 40-some pounds with the helmet and all the batteries.
“I wanted my tribute to be great for Black History Month. I wanted it to be good and I guess I put that before anything.”
Fury twice dropped Wilder before the round seven winCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Inside Tyson Fury’s relaxed dressing room before Wilder win as he kisses Paris, dances and asks trainer to wipe his bum
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
