Deontay Wilder’s career kicked into second gear just as Floyd Mayweather’s was winding down.

Although the never-beaten duo of Wilder and Mayweather share the same manager in Al Haymon, the WBC heavyweight champion feels that he hasn’t gotten the backing and endorsement from Mayweather as boxing’s next African-American lead man.

“I haven’t [gotten the support of Floyd as the next big African-American star and passing of the torch], and that’s OK,” Wilder told BoxingScene.com in an interview. “Sometimes it takes our own kind to come to a realization. Sometimes people don’t want to let go, especially with our culture and people. We’ve been brainwashed for so long, and put down for so long. It’s taken a while to love us as a race. Black excellence has come a long way, but you still have a few crabs in the bucket around, but all that will be washed away eventually.

“I don’t need the acceptance or the torch passed from none of these guys. They’ve done a great job in their careers — not only Floyd, but a lot of them. They know who they are. You can’t take nothing away from them. We take our hats off for what they’ve done. I just want the same respect. I don’t have any ill will toward none of these guys that have an ill will toward me, or look at me as anything else other than being great. I know I’m the best and most exciting fighter in the world, and the best in boxing — period. I’ll go down to flyweight and fight ‘em to prove my point. Nobody is doing what I’m doing. If you don’t believe me, go checkout my knockout reel. A lot of people are envious of that because their career was not like that, but I’m blessed. I just thank god and wish them all well.”

Wilder’s (41-0-1, 40 KOs) FOX PPV fight Saturday against Luis Ortiz (31-1, 26 KOs) is co-promoted by Mayweather Promotions in addition to BombZquad Promotions and TGB Promotions. It will take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Wilder will look to make his tenth consecutive successful defense of the WBC title he won in 2015 against Bermane Stiverne in the same venue — the house that Mayweather staged some of the biggest fights and gates in Nevada history.

Mayweather has reason not to pump up Wilder as the next best African-American fighter. He has his chips all in on Gervonta Davis, the 25-year-old undefeated champion he promotes, and the star of his stable.

During the Showtime broadcast of Wilder’s fight against Tyson Fury in 2018, Mayweather was critical of Wilder, emphasizing that he lost the first five rounds when reporter Jim Gray interviewed him in between rounds five and six.

"Floyd Mayweather walked out this arena disgusted ... that says it all," Fury’s trainer Ben Davison said about Mayweather's reaction to the questionable decision and draw after the fight.

Afterward, Wilder responded to TMZ Sports: "Oh they loved it. They loved every bit of it. The world loved it. And I don't think [Mayweather] liked that. I don't think he liked that … He wanted all the attention on him. It's sad that it's like that but the heavyweight division is where it's at."

In March, during the Errol Spence Jr. versus Mikey Garcia fight, Wilder and Mayweather embraced each other in the ring.

Wilder finished his near three-minute response regarding Mayweather with the following:

“All I can do is do what I do, and be a strong man and know who I am, what I represent and stand for,” said Wilder. “Along that way, I want to motivate others who follow along with me and they will see that they can change their mind. Love is love. All things must come to an end. There is an expiration date on a lot of things, especially when you’re dealing with us as human beings.

“Records are to be made, and they are also meant to be broken. Sometimes history repeats itself, and it comes in a greater form. I’m not convincing no one to take part or come to my side. I know who I am. I know what I’m capable of doing, and I know what I’ll do. I’m a special person. I’m anointed by god. Anybody who goes against that, just like the bible says, ‘any weapon formed against me shall not prosper.”

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.