Deontay Wilder’s coach Malik Scott breaks silence on Zhang loss: ‘It got really bad’

Deontay Wilder is facing calls to retire after his second straight loss, this time a stoppage at the hands of Zhilei Zhang.

After a points loss to Joseph Parker in which the former WBC champion did not watch the races, the fight against Zhang was a potential lifeline for his career. The performance instead reinforced the view that Wilder simply isn’t who he used to be in the ring.

Coach and former opponent Malik Scott spoke to ES News about the loss, expressing disappointment that the shot that ended it all was something they had practiced in training camp.

“Sometimes it’s just the way the chips fall in boxing. If you’re having a good night, then everything you did before was totally fine. If you’re having a bad night, here they are.

If you ask me the hardest thing about this loss, I’ve never wanted anything for anyone more in my life than this particular win for Deontay. I would take him to get this win over any win in his career because we had an incredible training camp… What’s most disappointing to me is the exact shot we were knocked out with is the exact shot I coached Deontay on to not get hit.

Not only did we not achieve victory, but it was not within our reach. Things got really bad. It was just one of those things, man.

Scott didn’t address the idea of ​​retirement, but briefly mentioned Wilder’s current mood and the legal issues he now finds himself in with his wife.

“We’ll see man. Right now he’s resting, he’s doing well. Obviously there are tough times right now but as you all know I’m old school, I’m nerdy, I ride with those who ride with me and who ride for me. Deontay is my brother. I will stay with him through thick and thin. We win together and we lose together, and that’s exactly what it is…

… We’re going through some things now, legal issues with Deontay, it’s no secret what’s in the news.

While Zhang is headed for another big fight, Wilder’s future in the heavyweight division appears to be all but over, certainly at the highest level.