Deontay Wilder has revealed that a grueling 20-hour plane journey to Saudi Arabia and a shortage of sparring sessions contributed to his defeat against Joseph Parker. The former world champion made his comeback in December, with a highly anticipated fight against Anthony Joshua on the horizon. However, Wilder struggled in the ring and ultimately lost on points, leaving fans and pundits puzzled. Now, Wilder has opened up about the challenges he faced leading up to the fight.
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Plane Journey Takes Its Toll
According to Wilder, the long plane journey to Saudi Arabia had a negative impact on his performance. He explained that he had to travel for 20 hours, while his opponents were already in Europe, just a few hours away from the fight location. Wilder highlighted the difficulties of breaking camp and enduring such a lengthy trip, but made it clear that he wasn't using it as an excuse.
Shortage of Sparring Sessions
Wilder also revealed that he didn't have as many sparring sessions as he would have liked leading up to the fight. Despite being prepared for every aspect of the camp, he admitted that the limited sparring opportunities affected his timing and ability to execute his game plan in the ring. Wilder acknowledged that his performance was not up to par and expressed frustration at his inability to "pull the trigger."
While Wilder faced numerous challenges in his preparation for the fight, he maintained a positive attitude, stating that he was glad to have experienced the ups and downs of boxing. He acknowledged that life can throw unexpected hurdles, but he remains determined to bounce back stronger in future bouts.
