Stephen A. reacts to Deontay Wilder blaming his costume for loss to Tyson Fury | First Take

I paid a severe price because my legs were the way they were because of my uniform, my uniform was too heavy, it weighed over 40 pounds, we had it on 10 or 15 minutes before we left and then we put on that helmet which was an extra weight. and then walking around the ring and then up the stairs was like a real workout for my legs when I took it off. I knew immediately that the game had changed. How bad this looks for Wilder. He is serious. Max Kellerman Molly. I have a lot of affection for him. Deontay Wilder I've spoken to him on several occasions, you know, outside of the boxing arena, whatever it is, I really like him, so I hope he accepts what I'm about to say in the spirit that this might be the most embarrassing excuse.

I've ever heard of a guy losing a fight. I am NOT questioning the ultimate validity of it. I'm not saying it may not be true. I'm not questioning that he's an honorable guy. I'll

take

him at his word, but my goodness. This is just not something you advertise, the outfit you wore in the ring weighing over 40 pounds, that's why you think you lost this fight, what the hell are you wearing in the ring for according to the report you tried it on the night before know how? How much did you weigh at that particular time? Why would you do that?

Why would you go? I understand Black History Month and you know all that, everyone goes to the ring and wins, they don't go to the ring in a suit to cry. Out loud, that's not what you'd fight, okay? So why are we here? If you're going to wear the same clothes you've always worn instead of something so different. Experiment in the biggest fight of your career, which is number two at most. number three they just hit him they hit him now give him credit I didn't see I thought his legs were going in the

first

round he says on the ground and around my legs I thought they were going in the

first

round He just looked out of place, no doubt, but posting this excuse is nothing short of embarrassing and then we hear that Max wants to get rid of Mark Breelan, where is his trainer? because he knows that he's listening that he was listening and some fighting. in the crowd and well, there's a Deontay Wilder.

I don't know if anyone told you this. I thought the fight should have been stopped two rounds earlier. I thought they could have stopped it in the fifth. I thought they could have stopped it in the sixth. I thought wobbly Mark had waited too long, so when you say that he probably won't be on your side and then you read the quote, he listens to this quote the most. I'm going to get out of my shield. I am a warrior if I say I am. I am willing to kill a man in the ring, so I am willing to comply with the same principle as a warrior to die in the ring. um Deontay Wilder, that's not what the Train is supposed to be.

The Train is not supposed to just be training you but saving you, you know, I mean, I mean, what is it? Eddie Futch max with Joe Frazier against our ally and would lead 15 rounds through a man of letters, wouldn't let him, hey what did he say, he said I cared too much about this. man and his family to let him out for that last round that's not the coach's job to sit there and let you die on your shield he's supposed to protect you so that's all I wanted to say about that Mac's floor is yours first nothing I want to address breelan, breelan probably did the right thing but I see Deon tase pointing out that he might get angry late I'm a big hitter I'm willing to die is what he's really saying be cool and in this it's not a preliminary, this It's a world heavyweight championship, so normally the trainer will give you a little more freedom and said you're right, the fight could have been stopped too.

I get that if Breelan had waited a little longer, I get that too. if I had stopped him sooner you're right it depends on what your risk tolerance is for a fighter in a championship in a heavyweight championship fight that's not a popular opinion I have and I'm usually the one who shouts for a fight . be stopped if a guy is taking punishment, but I think context matters and that in boxing, especially to be great, you have to

take

big risks with your health and I think fighters are allowed to say: I want to dare to be great , but true, the coach is there to protect them, that's not a fireable offense, which Breelan certainly didn't do, it probably saved him from future health problems when he stopped the fight, when he did, it's okay, he has bad paint, Stephen, it's your right, it's hilarious.

It's bad to blame your

costume

even if you think that's true and Deonte is the kind of guy who then says look, the best man won tonight with no excuses but he said no excuses right after giving this excuse about his legs and the right, I think. did, it's the same reason why Muhammad Ali, who took the first

loss

against Frazier very well, but also said, "hey, I thought I won more rounds in that fight," didn't, or Julio César Chávez later to have a draw against Pernell. Whitaker, who actually beat him, came out as an undefeated fighter who couldn't really accept the fact that they had been beaten and that the other guy was better than them.

Deonte is so proud that he is going into ego protection and is looking for reasons why he lost because his brain can't. I don't accept that that guy is better than me and the way the fight went, Stephen, there's no reason for a third fight. Everyone knows that Tyson Fury is better. Does anyone think Deonte is going to win? Now we will be on tenterhooks because that's how hard Deonte hits. he always has that chance to hit but no one is going to pick Deonte in a third fight and it was such a hard beating it's his ego now I think he needs to do it he's grabbing things do you know Emanuel Steward whose nephew trained Tyson Fury for this?

Sugar Hill fight Emanuel Steward used to tell me and he believed that the reason Tommy Hearns lost to Marvin Hagler was because he got a leg massage before the fight. Emanuel told him not to do it, so his legs were rubbery and I used to say, come on, Emanuel. He liked it but he believed it because sometimes it is the coaches who have also invested a lot in being the best to win, they are so competitive that they grasp at straws this is Deonte grasping at straws but it is one thing to grasp at straws max another thing is to give to know that grasping at straws, I mean, my God, Deontay Wilder, he has a nuclear right hand, he always has a chance to hit, this is his first

loss

, there is no doubt, I love Deontay Wilder, but you can't come out publicly and blame .

Stoom, you can't do that. It's just embarrassing. I mean, it's just embarrassing. Thanks for watching ESPN on YouTube for more sports highlights and analysis. Be sure to download the ESPN app and to watch live sports and premium content, subscribe to ESPN Plus.