The war of words between deposed WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder and former trainer Mark Breland shows no sign of relenting.
Over the weekend, Breland emerged from an almost year-long silence to dispute the former champion’s somewhat preposterous claims that he had spiked his water in February 2020’s beatdown at the fists of Tyson Fury. That night in Las Vegas, Breland intervened to save Wilder from further punishment, a seemingly compassionate act that the ‘Bronze Bomber’ viewed as one of betrayal.
Wilder blasted back on Monday, claiming that Breland’s riposte was a sign of jealousy and now Breland has countered again with further reflections on their fatally broken relationship, revealing the cracks were there long before the Fury annihilation last year.
“My time in the coach position with the Bronze Bomber changed drastically in the 12 years since I started with him,” said Breland in a statement on social media. “So Jay Deas was seen as the head trainer, but I was the only one on the team, but I was the only one on the team with a boxing resume and I was the only trainer. This was okay with me because of my humility.
“After Deontay became a name in boxing, new members joined the team and it got to the point where I didn’t even have my fighter’s phone number. I haven’t spoken to Deontay alone in years. The things that I told Deontay to do had to be run past Jay.
“Deontay had become untrainable because he was at the point of, he knows more about boxing than all of us. So teaching a correct jab was not a priority to learn once he continued on his knockout streak … so a coach can only teach someone if they’re willing to learn.”
“Lastly, at that fight just as many others we had no cutman because Deontay won’t need it. So I’m not a doctor but I know blood coming out of your ears and dazed eyes could be a brain issue and power comes from your legs and his legs were gone.
“So I made a decision to stop the fight and I’d do it all again! I have a son Deontay’s age. I’m not looking to see him go out on his shield.”