Deontay ‘The Bronze Bomber’ Wilder (43-2-1) has one of the most important fights in his career coming up on December 23 against Joseph Parker (33-3, 23 KOs) live on DAZN PPV from the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It’s a fight that will lead to the mega event next year against Anthony Joshua, so Wilder’s relationship with his trainer, Malik Scott, is more important than ever.
The morning of February 23, 2020, (right as COVID started to make a name for itself here in the U.S.), Scott received a phone call from Wilder asking if he wanted to become his head trainer. Wilder was four months removed from the third Tyson Fury fight, which he brutally lost, and he knew that a change needed to be made if his career was to continue. Looking back, although it meant firing his former trainer Mark Breland, it was likely the best move for Wilder at that moment.
Wilder needed a peer who was familiar with his situation. Scott and Wilder spent countless days together in training camps and even shared the ring with him once back in 2014. Even though Scott lost to Wilder by knockout the two men have since built a strong relationship that mimics that of brothers. They spend a lot of time with each other, and Wilder believes it was destined to happen.
That πππͺππππ£π Wilder Jab π₯Ά
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) December 18, 2023
π₯ @BronzeBomber
Watch the #DayOfReckoning globally on DAZN PPV on Saturday, December 23. Buy now at https://t.co/FoiaUucafv.#RiyadhSeason pic.twitter.com/9Xj1L0NOWW
“Me and Malik’s (Scott) relationship has been great from the time that I met him until now,” said Wilder. “Bringing him on as my head coach, moving a couple of people out of the way has been one of my best decisions. I’m looking to display a great performance come December 23.”
Wilder didn’t stop there; he went deeper into why he believes things with Scott work so well. “When you have someone you connect with and have the same vibration and energy, wonderful things happen. With Me and Malik, we understand each other so much more than the average.”
Wilder continued, “Maybe it’s because we are both believers. His mother’s birthday is on my birthday, and my mother’s birthday is on his birthday. It’s a beautiful thing that we have regarding communication and understanding each other, and he just gets it. I get him, and he gets me. When you have two individuals that come together, it brings a masterpiece. It’s been a great thing for us.”
π @BronzeBomber talks @anthonyjoshua in Riyadh #WilderParker | #DayOfReckoning | #JoshuaWallin pic.twitter.com/tyibM06WOY
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) December 18, 2023
This bond between Wilder and Scott makes sense in today's world. Fighters from the past who made it to the mountaintop always had a tight relationship with their trainer, who was always a much older person. In today's version, Wilder and Scott are closer in age, so there’s a level of understanding that extends outside of just boxing.
Wilder is as confident as ever, but this is boxing, and when it comes to heavyweights, anything can happen. In the meantime, Wilder is zeroed in on Parker so that he can move forward to the next fight—which will hopefully be Joshua. “This camp has been magnificent in preparing for Joseph Parker. Although it’s been a short one, it has been great,” said The Bronze Bomber. “We are all looking forward to it.”
πΊ Dancing into #DayOfReckoning Fight Week.
— PPV.COM (@ppv_com) December 18, 2023
Dec. 23 | LIVE on https://t.co/op5b8eSOjx
π https://t.co/IaBSVBVdR7
(via @BronzeBomber/ IG) pic.twitter.com/BgZnfWEYVe
With ESPN reporting that the Joshua fight is agreed upon for March 9, he has an opportunity to make history with Scott. Can the relationship between Wilder and Scott lead to more championship glory, or will Wilder prove unable to recapture the imagination of the boxing fans? The Day of Reckoning is quickly approaching when all of these questions will be answered.
