Wilder Cites Loyalty For Sticking With Trainer Deas After Close Fights

Deontay Wilder dealt with two close calls in a nine-month span last year in which Luis Ortiz and Tyson Fury presented challenges the WBC heavyweight champion of the world had never seen.

Before the right-hand dependent — and dominant — fighter restored order with a first-round destruction of Dominic Breazeale in May, he was involved with close encounters where he edged Ortiz by 11 punches, 98 to 87, in a competitive brawl before knocking him out, and in a fight where Fury outlanded him 84 to 71 in a draw.

When asked if Wilder ever considered making changes to his team, primarily in lifetime trainers Jay Dean and Mark Breland, to introduce new elements in his game ahead of his rematch with Ortiz on Saturday at the MGM Grand (FOX PPV), Wilder said he didn’t.

“I have the same people I started with, and that’s going to be the same people I finish with,” Wilder told BoxingScene.com in an interview. “I’m a special type of person. Certain trainers can’t connect with me. Our team understands each other. When I go into different situations, they know what I need to improve on.

“Jay plays multiple parts in my life, and not only trainer. We’re brothers. That’s my right hand man. You have to surround yourself in boxing with people you love, for sure — but most of all, people you trust. Boxing can be a good or bad business depending on who you’re dealing with. He overseas and observes many things.”

The Alabama-based Deas doesn’t have a stable of stars like some other coaches, but that doesn’t bother Wilder as he continues on his path to potentially facing Fury again should he first get by Ortiz. 

Wilder (41-0-1, 40 KOs) had easily demolished every opponent he’d ever faced till his first meeting with Ortiz last March, only to survive a serious scare in a seventh round and rebound with a tenth round KO. Wilder was only ahead 85-84 on all three judges cards after nine rounds.

In December, Wilder needed two knockdowns to score a draw against Tyson Fury, who mostly out-peppered the more powerful and vicious Wilder for twelve rounds.

“We talked about it after the fight, and what we could’ve done better. After that, that’s it,” said Wilder. “They have enough faith in me to understand that I know what I’m doing.”

Wilder is one of three active fighters who lands more than 30 percent of his jabs (30.1%), joining Gennady Golovkin (30.9%) and Anthony Joshua (30.5%) on the list. He’ll need to show a more complete version of himself to stop the surging Ortiz.

“My loyalty as a person is that I’m someone who really loves you and has your back no matter what it is. Loyalty has to be earned, just like trust and respect,” said Wilder. “That means everything, because I’m the same way. That’s how you keep a strong team. Nothing can come in and disturb or distract what God has planned because of the loyalty that surrounds the group of men around me. My entire team is family oriented and has my best interest at heart and making sure that Deontay gets everything that he deserves.”

Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist and member of the Boxing Writers Assn. of America since 2011. He has written for the likes of the Guardian, USA Today, Philadelphia Inquirer, Men’s Health and NFL.com and currently does TV commentary for combat sports programming that airs on Fox Sports and hosts his own radio show in Los Angeles. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan or via email at manouk.akopyan@gmail.com.