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Deontay Wilder Reveals He Was ‘Blind In One Eye’ During Major Fight

Deontay Wilder has admitted that he had impaired vision during one of his world title fights.

‘The Bronze Bomber’ has been one of boxing’s most entertaining characters inside and outside the ring for more than a decade. He was the WBC ruler for many years and knocked out every man he faced up until his split decision draw with Tyson Fury in 2018, then lost the two rematches by KO and has struggled since.

He has alas been beaten by Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang, and after more than a year out, he returns against Derek Chisora in London on April 4.

Deontay Wilder Reveals He Was ‘Blind In One Eye’ During Major Fight

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Speaking on DAZN Boxing, Wilder revealed he had an injury before his maiden world title fight with Bermaine Stiverne in 2015.

“I had a point to prove. I needed the money for my daughter. I promised my daughter I’d be a champion to be able to support her and I wasn’t going to let anything get in the way.

“I even got injured the day before the fight, I busted something in my eye, so I couldn’t see. I could only see grey and black out of this eye, so I only had one eye in that fight but I couldn’t let my opponent know or act different, He doesn’t even know to this day I beat him with one eye. I was doing this for my daughter, for so many reasons, my hunger was in starving mode.”

Wilder won the WBC title that night – though it remains the only victory on his ledger that came by decision and not knockout – and went on to defend it 10 times. He will be hoping to find some of that same fire when he takes on ‘Del Boy’ next month in what will be both men’s 50th contest.

Deontay Wilder Reveals Exactly What He Told Derek Chisora In Private Exchange

Deontay Wilder and Derek Chisora will share the ring in April in what could be the final fight for the loser.

Both of these heavyweight veterans have already fought 49 times. ‘Del Boy’ long said his 50th fight would be his last, but a win could bring new world title opportunities, so the temptation to carry on could be too strong.

He has found form in recent fights with three consecutive wins, while Wilder has been stopped inside five rounds by Zhilei Zhang and beaten on points by Joseph Parker in two of his last three.

Deontay Wilder Reveals Exactly What He Told Derek Chisora In Private Exchange

READ: “It says a lot”: Gervonta Davis accused of avoiding the fight ‘everybody wants to see’

Speaking to Ring Magazine, Wilder explained what he said to Chisora in the recent head-to-head.

“When I say that we can be friends on the outside, but in the fight we’re gonna turn that off, I’ve already told him I want you to try to kill me. He looked at me kinda weird, but that’s what I need, that. I’m proven.

“I also have a brother that I fought and I told him the same thing, this is gonna be the last time we talk, the next time we see each other we’re gunna be in each other’s face, we’ll be at war. Cause I need that point of time too turn it off. Then after we fought we’ll be closer.”

Wilder needs to recapture the explosive right-hand power that led him to reign over the WBC division for so long until he was eventually topped twice by Tyson Fury or it could be the end of a fine career.

Deontay Wilder Says Will Dispute With Ex and Her Son Left Him Fearing a Heart Attack

Deontay Wilder continues to struggle in his personal life, thanks to his relationship with his former partner, Telli Swift.

The pair began dating in 2015, got engaged in 2018, and shortly after welcomed their first child, Kaorii, together. However, by the time 2024 rolled around, Wilder’s love life had taken a toll much like his career in the boxing ring. By April 2024, Swift claimed Wilder had thrown her out of their Atlanta home shortly after a surgery.

Things got worse when she filed for a temporary restraining order in June 2024, a move that escalated the situation into a contentious custody dispute. In addition to Kaorii, Swift has a son, Kerron, from a previous relationship, whom Wilder had embraced and helped raise as his own. However, in a recent interview, Wilder revealed that a dispute involving his will and Swift’s son caused him severe stress, which left him fearing a heart attack.

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Deontay Wilder reveals what triggered him to run to his lawyer

Deontay Wilder made a series of explosive allegations against his ex-partner, Telli Swift, during an appearance on Cigar Talk with host Naji. Speaking candidly about their fallout, the former heavyweight champion claimed financial betrayal played a major role in their split. “My ex stole over $400,000 from me,” Wilder told Naji, discussing his ex-partner. He also alleged that Swift wanted to relocate to California to increase potential child support payments.

“See that where all the girls go to California because them lawyers out there waiting on them and the laws is a woman is innocent until proven guilty. A man is guilty until proven innocent.” Wilder also accused Swift of misrepresenting her professional background. According to him, she claimed to be a CPA but was actually a CNA. “That’s the lowest of the low in the hospital if I’m not mistaken,” Wilder added.

“But you want to tell people certain things because you want to look a certain part that you really [don’t].” He further claimed he took Swift in after she lost her job and helped prevent her from becoming homeless. The former champion went on to detail how deeply he had invested in her family. “And helped her out and all this stuff, and this is how you repay me. I took the role of being your son’s father, not just a daddy, but a father. I went in so hard, bro,” Wilder said.

“I put them on my will… I moved a little space over and added her son on my will. You ain’t even my son for real. I put her in my will as well, too. You [were] just my girlfriend. You ain’t even my wife.” Wilder, who reportedly has eight children with different women, then described an incident that prompted him to remove Swift’s son from his will.

“One time the son said, ‘You ain’t my daddy.’ Now, that’s one thing you don’t say to a man that ain’t your daddy. I fed you, took you on all these trips, gave you a beautiful life… Bro, when he did that, I ran to my lawyer to try to get that. Because I felt like I was going to have a heart attack. Seriously,” Wilder told Naji during the interview.

Despite Wilder’s frustration, things haven’t been going well for the former heavyweight champion.

Wilder was denied custody of his 6-year-old daughter

When Swift filed for a temporary restraining order, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge granted her request after she alleged that Wilder had physically assaulted her. As part of the ruling, the court also ordered that Wilder’s visits with their daughter be supervised. By June 2025, Wilder was seeking joint custody of his daughter, pointing to concerns about Swift’s living situation.

He cited her relationship with NFL safety John Johnson III, claiming that Swift’s move to Southern California to live with her new boyfriend had led to 18 unexpected school absences. These allegations were among several issues raised in a 266-page court filing in which Wilder argued that his daughter’s life had “not been stable” under Swift’s sole custody. Despite those claims, the court ruled against Wilder.

That being said, it appears Deontay Wilder continues to struggle in his efforts to gain custody of his daughter. In the process, his relationship with his ex-partner—and her son—has deteriorated beyond repair.

Even with a new fight on the horizon, it seems like Tyson Fury’s greatest battles remain with the ghosts of past rivalries.

Fury’s former rival Deontay Wilder claimed that he has “proof” that the  British boxer cheated in their fights. However, the former ‘Baddest Man on the Planet’ finds the allegations funny!

“I have no idea what he was on about. He’s had too many punches to the head, for sure,” Fury told iFL TV‘s Kugan Cassius when asked if Wilder’s threats to expose alleged cheating in their first two fights worried him. “I’m waiting for the documentary to come out.”

Tyson Fury also mocked his former opponent’s slip of tongue, calling “documentary” as “docu-me-mory”. The ‘Bronze Bomber’ has alleged that Fury practiced glove tampering to gain an unfair advantage in their encounters. It’s a narrative the American has stuck with for years. Fury teased that he had “napalm” inside his gloves. Wilder challenged Fury to sue him if he’s lying. It’s not only his trilogy with Wilder that he gets asked about; he’s also frequently questioned about his recent rivalry with Usyk.

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In another catch-up in which he was accompanied by boxing great Lennox Lewis, he reiterated his old claims. He believed he deserved the wins instead of the back-to-back losses against Oleksandr Usyk. The two met in 2024 and exchanged 24 rounds in fights scheduled in May and December.

“I know in my heart I won those fights, yeah?” Fury said. “When you’re a man and you fight another man, if you lose, you know you lose, and I shake the man’s hand—fair play. Listen, he’s got them; he did win; he’s got his decisions; he won them; fair play. I kissed him on the head and congratulated him—fair play. But he knows, and I know he didn’t beat me. He gets his decisions, fantastic.”

Against that backdrop, Usyk has been struggling to land a matchup while rumors of a fight with a former kickboxing champion continue to float. Flipping the narrative, Fury argued that despite the “so-called losses,” he is making more money through a Netflix event than Usyk, who is still struggling to land a fight.

Tyson Fury feels Deontay Wilder could be going through mental health issues

Tyson Fury feels that Deontay Wilder could be dealing with “mental health issues.” He planned to go for a tit-for-tat response to Wilder’s allegations. But he eventually decided against it.

“Rather than just go back and forth with him and yada yada yada, saying he’s deluded and all that, I’m just going to pray for him, and I’m going to ask God to help him,” Fury said. “I’m going to ask the Father to bring him back to the light cuz this man is a lost, lost soul, and I beg Jesus to turn him, to return him to the kingdom.”

Fury’s confidence in his fair and square wins is backed by many. Yet it’s not clear if the same support will be extended toward the Usyk fight claims.

When they fought for the first time, on May 18, 2024, Fury suffered a ninth-round knockdown before succumbing to a split decision in Usyk’s favor. The second bout, on December 21, was a more decisive affair in which Usyk defeated him on the scorecards of all three judges. Barring a few like Fury’s promoter Frank Warren, hardly anyone retained any doubts over the verdict.

Regardless, boxing fans around the world will be tuning in to watch Fury take on Arslanbek Makhmudov in April. Will the comeback prove to be a masterstroke, or could it put his legacy on the line? Only time will tell.

Deontay Wilder says the long-discussed fight with Oleksandr Usyk did not fall apart at the negotiating table — it never lined up with the plan already in motion.

Wilder told Fight Hub TV the Usyk idea was real “at moments,” but as the buzz grew, there was still no confirmed date or venue to anchor the talks.

With no firm date or location on the table, Wilder turned his focus back to a fight that had been in the works far longer.

A WBN poster of Usyk vs Wilder in the backdrop of the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas

READ: “Tougher than all of them”: Deontay Wilder overlooks Tyson Fury as

Chisora Fight Was Already In Motion
Wilder explained that negotiations for a fight with Derek Chisora had been underway for months and were initially targeted for December before other circumstances delayed it.

“And me and Derek have been working on a fight for a very long time,” Wilder said. “Actually, this fight’s supposed to have happened back in December, you know what I mean, but due to other situations and stuff, it didn’t happen.”

By the time Usyk’s name entered serious discussion, Wilder said the Chisora agreement was already part of a wider plan he did not want to abandon.

Usyk Talks Lacked Structure
Wilder said Usyk mentioned the fight first, which sparked the wave of attention and conversations. But he also suggested the situation never came with the basics needed to move it forward quickly.

“He mentioned it first, he wanted to fight me,” Wilder said, describing how the talks gathered momentum. “But I don’t think they, you know, had a real set date, a place where they wanted to go, that still was lingering around. And you know, the clock goes like this, it’s tick tock.”

As reported exclusively last year, Shelly Finkel wanted Wilder in the ring by the end of 2025. At 40, Wilder stressed that waiting without direction was not an option.

“I can’t sit back, I can’t sit around,” Wilder said. “And of course, we have plans of what we want to do to get to the top.”

Timing Over Opportunity
Rather than framing the situation as a rejection, Wilder described it as timing and progression. He said his return path was already mapped out, and he wanted a step that fit what came next.

“The second fight is what’s going to be something a level a little bit different than my opponent, but a little bit more,” Wilder said. “And then the Derek Chisora (fight) came, which was the level all over because we need somebody like that.”

Wilder made it clear that the Usyk interest intensified while his own path had already been set. Without a firm framework in place, he was not prepared to let the clock run down.

The opportunity may return. For now, the division has moved on. In Wilder’s words, this time it was not about fear or money. It was about the lack of a plan — and the fact that he refused to sit still while it formed.

The immediate consequence is clear: the WBC title route has shifted, with President Mauricio Sulaiman stating Usyk must next face mandatory challenger Agit Kabayel.

Deontay Wilder overlooks Tyson Fury as he names surprise toughest opponent of career

Deontay Wilder has been made to dig deep on more than one occasion during his professional boxing career.

Artur Szpilka and Luis Ortiz were both causing ‘The Bronze Bomber’ all kinds of problems before he plucked out a punch from the Gods, while punishing defeats to Tyson Fury, Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang took significant mileage off his clock.

Johann Duhaupas against Deontay Wilder in 2015

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Before he locked horns with any of the aforementioned contenders, Wilder’s handlers matched him against rugged veteran Johann Duhaupas in September 2015.

Wilder was making the second defence of his WBC heavyweight title in his home state of Alabama after snatching the green and gold strap from Bermane Stiverne six months prior.

Duhaupas had struggled against no-hope former title challengers Manuel Charr and Francesco Pianeta, and a defeat to fringe contender Erkan Teper did little to persuade fans that he could pull off an upset.

While the fight wasn’t particularly competitive, Duhaupas made Wilder work harder than he had ever done before.

With blood pouring from a cut on the bridge of his crooked nose, Duhaupas forced the heavy-handed American onto his heels as hellacious shots repeatedly bounced off his head.

After 11 punishing rounds, referee Jack Reiss stepped in and waved off the fight against the ropes, much to the dismay of the stubborn Frenchman.

11 years later, and Wilder is still in awe of how Duhaupas walked through his shots undeterred.

“It might surprise you, but my toughest opponent and the one who hit me the hardest is the Frenchman, Johann Duhaupas,” Wilder told talkSPORT.com.

“I remember he was very durable, and he brought the fight to my backyard.

“I remember he hit me with a jab and I thought, ‘Oh s*** I cannot take these punches too many times, or there is going to be an upset in my own hometown.’

Wilder says he has never been hit harder than in his fight with Duhaupas

“That’s when I started getting myself together, and I eventually stopped him, but he was still on his feet, the tough b******.

“He is the only one who has hit me, and I can still remember the after effects of the punches.

“Tougher than all of them, and that is the God’s honest truth.”

When is Deontay Wilder’s next fight?

Wilder is expected to be dragged back into deep waters by Derek Chisora on April 4.

Both men are making their 50th, and potentially final, professional outings at London’s O2 Arena.

Whoever emerges victorious could land a shot at unified champion Oleksandr Usyk, while the loser will almost certainly be frozen out of the title picture.

“Sue Me”: Deontay Wilder Held Back by Security as He Storms Out of Interview After Tyson Fury Question

Tyson Fury has a surname bearing an emotion. Yet it seems the Bronze Bomber is the one who appears more “furious,” so much so that as the interview with Simon Jordan escalated, security had to intervene, just in case he crossed the line. The unexpected development centers on Wilder’s latest round of accusations, in which he blamed Fury, who defeated him in two of their three fights, for cheating.

The latest allegations come ahead of Wilder’s scheduled bout against Derek Chisora on April 4 at London’s O2 Arena. The former WBC heavyweight champion drew attention when he claimed that Tyson Fury cheated his way through the first two fights of their trilogy. Stating that he will reveal everything through a documentary or a film, Deontay Wilder even challenged Fury to sue him if he’s wrong. Yet few would have predicted the way he reacted when Simon Jordan raised the subject in the latest episode of talkBOXING.

Deontay Wilder Tyson Fury

READ: Tyson Fury makes Deontay Wilder U-turn after cheating accusation

Deontay Wilder exits interview after being pushed on Tyson Fury accusations

Wilder appeared to have already made up his mind that he didn’t want to discuss Tyson Fury or their fights. “We are not going to talk about him at all,” he insisted, raising his pitch. Yet Jordan continued. Explaining why he wanted to bring up Fury, the businessman-presenter said, “So what I’m asking you in all of this is it sounds to me, given the character that you are, that’s like a little bit flaky. You lost those fights, and those fights were lost, and you saying that someone like Fury cheated you in those fights, I think is kind of disappointing to me.”

The comment clearly struck a nerve as Wilder fired back, saying, “I know the truth; I have the facts.” Insisting that whatever he has said about Fury remains true, Wilder framed it in racial terms. “Why is it so hard to believe a Black man rather than a white man?”

Jordan tried to cool things down – it wasn’t about color. But Wilder continued pressing the issue. As tensions rose, co-host Simon Oliver attempted to intervene and steer the discussion toward the upcoming fight against Chisora.

Yet Wilder appeared rattled by that point. He got up from his seat and, after sitting down again for a few minutes, walked out only to return in front of Jordan. Speaking about Fury, he said, “Tell him to sue me so I can show the facts early because when the documentary and everything and the story come out, I’m going to show everything.”

By then, security had surrounded him. Thankfully, nothing untoward happened, and Wilder walked out of the studio.

Wilder rekindles Fury dispute; Brit pushes back

Wilder’s outburst at the talkSPORT studio likely caught many off guard. The losses to Fury triggered a career downturn, which many believe he has struggled to recover from. Wilder drew the first fight with the English heavyweight before losing via a seventh-round TKO in the rematch.

The third fight, which ended in the 11th round, remains the most decisive, with Ring Magazine adjudging it the Fight of the Year.

However, Wilder continues to raise questions about the verdicts from the first two bouts. “If I’m lying, then please tell him to sue me for defamation of character so I can have the proof,” he said in the Ring podcast.

As in the latest instance, his charges leaned toward claims of racial bias. While the referee giving an “extra 15 count” to Fury in their first fight after he knocked him down remained one major grievance for Wilder, his complaints extended to allegedly tampered gloves, stating Fury followed the same approach in their rematch as well.

Wilder’s rival in the case, Fury, meanwhile, delivered a parting jab. Without naming Wilder directly, he praised Oleksandr Usyk, who defeated him. “In this life, you don’t always get what you want or what you think you did enough to get. But that’s where it stays. You don’t hear me crying and moaning about it, saying, ‘Oh my god, he cheated. ‘That’s not me, and there’s no point in crying over spilled milk.” Fans now have to see how he responds to Wilder’s renewed fire.

Tyson Fury makes Deontay Wilder U-turn after cheating accusations

Tyson Fury fears Deontay Wilder is struggling with his mental health following his recent outbursts.

Wilder, who has been promoting his April clash with Derek Chisora this week, has repeatedly accused Fury of cheating during their three-fight rivalry. The heavyweights drew their first fight in 2018 before Fury stopped Wilder in their second and third encounters.

Wilder has looked a shadow of his former self since but will attempt to set himself up for another world title shot by knocking out Chisora in London on Easter weekend. Now Fury has decided to stop biting at Wilder’s accusations and instead expressed concerns over his former rival.

Tyson Fury has recently provided fans with an update ahead of his return to the ring

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“I’m sat here thinking about all the stuff Deontay Wilder has been saying recently,” Fury said in a video posted to social media. “I got dragged into posting stuff, a video of me knocking him out and whatever… I’ve just deleted it. Rather than retaliate and hate on somebody – this man really dopes have mental health issues, it’s evident to see – and rather than go back and forth with him, saying he’s deluded, I’m going to pray for him and ask God to help him.

“He obviously needs the help and I’m not getting involved in pettiness. The fights were won fair and square and that’s it. I’m going to pray for him and ask the Father to bring him back to the light. This man is lost, a lost soul, and I beg Jesus to return him to the Kingdom.”

Fury himself will return to the ring against Arslanbek Makhmudov on April 11. He had previously responded to Wilder’s outburst by hitting back at the American. “Wilder is and was a p****. Little b**** and a s***house also! When I put it on him in Saudi he hugged me,” he said.

One of Wilder’s complaints is the count given by referee Jack Reiss in his first meeting with Fury. The Brit was dropped in the final round but climbed off the canvas to hear the final bell. “Being a black man with dark skin is harder to believe than being a white man,” saids Wilder. “And in that first fight with the referee — that’s white supremacy. You know what he did? He said, ‘what’s best for boxing.’ No, your job is to count his a** out. He gave him an extra 15 count. It is what it is. I speak with truth, heart, and passion.”

Deontay Wilder makes wild claim Tyson Fury cheated in two of their fights

Former WBC Heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder is officially set to return to the boxing ring on April 4, 2026, when he faces two-time title challenger Derek Chisora at The O2 Arena in London on DAZN pay-per-view (PPV).

While promoting the fight, Wilder recently sat down for an interview with The Ring, where the conversation inevitably turned to Tyson Fury — a shared rival for both Wilder and Chisora. Fury defeated Chisora three times and also fought Wilder in one of boxing’s most memorable trilogies.

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Chisora brushed off the topic with a laugh, joking, “He beat my ass three times.” Wilder, however, took a far more aggressive approach, accusing “The Gypsy King” of cheating in two of their three bouts.

“He didn’t whoop me twice at all,” Wilder said. “I’m telling you what I know. You’re only seeing what you saw — he didn’t win nothing, they gave it to him. I can’t think of our third fight, but in two of them, he definitely cheated. I’ve got proof and evidence of that. When I do my documentary and movie about it, it’s going to be presented. I’m going to bring the people, and the artifacts, I know.”

Wilder doubled down on his accusations, challenging Fury to respond legally if the claims are false.

“Why do you think he can’t come back to America?” Wilder continued. “The man cheated. He’s the biggest cheater in boxing history. If I’m lying, then please tell him to sue me for defamation of character so that I have the proof. I can’t wait. Being a black man with dark skin is harder to believe than being a white man. And in that first fight with the referee — that’s white supremacy. You know what he did? He said, ‘what’s best for boxing.’ No, your job is to count his ass out. He gave him an extra 15 count. It is what it is. I speak with truth, heart, and passion.”

Fury and Wilder’s rivalry remains one of the most iconic trilogies in boxing history. Their first meeting ended in a controversial split draw, with many fans believing Wilder deserved the win after scoring two knockdowns. Fury dominated the second fight via TKO, after which Wilder introduced a series of infamous excuses — including claims his water was spiked and his ring-walk outfit was too heavy. The third fight ended similarly, with Fury stopping Wilder again in an instant classic.

Fury has yet to respond publicly to Wilder’s latest cheating allegations — but if history is any indication, a response will come, and it likely won’t be subtle.

Deontay Wilder reveals why he chose Chisora over title fight with Usyk

Deontay Wilder has revealed why his mooted matchup with Oleksandr Usyk, for the unified world heavyweight crown, has been replaced by a non-title fight against Derek Chisora.

The former WBC champion was called out by Usyk towards the end of last year, with both parties entering negotiations for their showdown to take place in America.

Earlier this month, though, heavyweight veteran Chisora emerged as a rumoured opponent for ‘The Bronze Bomber’, who also happens to be gearing up for his 50th professional outing.

Deontay Wilder reveals why he chose Chisora over title fight with Usyk

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With 100 fights between them, it has now been confirmed that the pair will collide on April 4, headlining a Misfits Pro card in London.

Chisora comes off a string of points victories over Gerald Washington, Joe Joyce and Otto Wallin, which followed his punishing stoppage defeat to Tyson Fury in 2022.

At the age of 42, it is certainly fair to say that the Londoner has seen better days; but so too has Wilder, whose last contest saw him labour to a seventh-round finish over Tyrrell Herndon in June.

Prior to that, the 40-year-old had suffered back-to-back defeats to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang, with the two fights ending via a wide unanimous decision and fifth-round stoppage, respectively.

But now, Wilder has secured himself a more winnable fight than his scuppered assignment against Usyk, which, speaking with Daily Mail Boxing, he claims talks with the Ukrainian were simpy dragging on too long.

“When you’re in negotiations, sometimes things just take longer than [you expect].

“There was a lot going on – I don’t want to put words in nobody’s mouth, but the process was taking too long. We needed to get out and get a fight.

“I wouldn’t want to call it a warm-up fight – Derek’s no pushover, he’s coming to fight. I’m mentally, physically and emotionally prepared for that.”

With Usyk coming off a fifth-round stoppage victory over Daniel Dubois, and having expressed his desire to enter at least two more fights, it remains to be seen who he will now defend his WBC, IBF and WBA titles against.