Deontay Wilder feels the delay to his trilogy clash with Tyson Fury has proved beneficial, rather than disruptive.
After losing in seven rounds to Fury in February 2020, the Bronze Bomber had to take a legal route to enforce a previously contracted third fight. WBC kingpin Fury was on the brink of finalising an undisputed title bout with WBA Super, WBO and IBF champion Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia when an arbitration judge ruled that the Gypsy King must face Wilder next.
But when Fury tested positive for Covid-19, a July 24 date with Wilder was also scrapped meaning that both fighters will have been inactive for almost 20 months when they finally collide at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on October 9.
Wilder insists that his absence from a boxing ring has allowed him to regroup and redefine his craft with new trainer Malik Scott.
“I feel amazing. It’s past good or great,” said Wilder on a video conference call with the boxing media. “This time that has passed has been great for me. With the more time that’s passed, the more that we’ve been able to work on different little things and perfect them. You can’t always be perfect, but that doesn’t mean you can’t train to be perfect.
“The delay was actually a blessing for me. The more they delayed it, the more time we had to work on my craft and art, along with strategically going over the game plan we’re going to have on October 9. It was obviously frustrating, because I was ready to go, and this is the longest I’ve been out of the ring. There’s something about the ring that calls you and draws you back. But I’ve used the time and benefited tremendously.
“This has hands down been the best training camp I’ve had in my entire career. Sometimes you need events to happen in life to bring about changes that you need. We’ve had no distractions and I’m just in a happy state mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.
“You’re looking at a rejuvenated and reinvented Deontay Wilder. The old Deontay is no longer there. I can’t explain it to you, I have to show you on October 9. I’m looking forward to it and I can’t wait.
“I want payback back in blood,” added Wilder. “On October 9, I will get my revenge. It’s an eye for an eye.”
Main image: Ryan Hafey/Premier Boxing Champions.