Mark Breland responds to Wilder
After months of silence, Mark Breland has been a whirlwind of words lately. The laidback boxing trainer first went viral when he conducted an interview with The Fight is Right. During that sit down, Breland firmly stated that his working and professional relationship with Deontay “Bronze Bomber” Wilder (42-1-1, 41 KO’s) was definitely dead. While making this declaration, Breland gave the impression that he was saying that the Bomber’s career was over. Mere hours later, Wilder conducted his own interview to counter what his former coach had said. The heavy-handed Alabaman aired his grievances on 78SportsTv.
Seeing the grand amount of attention that this story was accumulating, Breland felt compelled to clear up a few items. Rather than go back on someone else’s platform, the quiet corner-man published a small book’s worth of words via his Instagram account. The former world champion clarified that instead of saying Wilder’s career was finished, he was unconcerned with what happens next. He also doubled down on saying that if he were in his prime, he could and would have dusted off most of the guys the Bomber fought. Perhaps the least surprising thing that Breland said was that he was never talking about this subject again!
“I stand by my words that the skill set and boxing IQ I see on AJ and many of the fighters that my former fighter fought would not get past a few rounds with me (if we were in the same era and weight class, obviously). As far as Deontay is “done and I’m done,” I meant with each other. I don’t have any idea of what/where that man’s career is going and I’m not interested in trying to predict his career.”
WHO’S THE BOSS?
One interesting item that came out is how he characterized the different roles in Wilder’s camp. Let Breland tell it, head coach Jay Deas is little more than a yes-man with a spit bucket and towel. According to the former Olympians’ retelling, the entire camp was run based off the whim of whatever emotion the Bomber was feeling. If he wanted to go hard, train or hit the bag, he would. Yet, if that did not suit his fancy, it would go undone.
This is interesting because it both paints Wilder as a prima donna and undisciplined fighter. One of the leading critiques of the former WBC Heavyweight champion is his lack of development. Obviously Wilder has a wicked straight right-hand that has flattened countless fighters. Outside of his overt punching power however, the Bomber has displayed remarkably little overall development in the ring. Being allowed to skip crucial elements of the training routine by a coddling coach would go a long way to explaining why that is.
“We would wait for the champ hours before he arrived at the gym and Jay would inform us of his mood. If he had a bad day we had to ‘be quiet’ to not be on the receiving end of his ‘wrath’ according to Jay in an effort to not be ‘fired’. And yeah, hitting the bag, jumping rope and running is not high on the list for him. So if he don’t feel like it, he don’t and Jay didn’t seem to understand the importance.”
WHAT’S NEXT?
There is little doubt that Wilder will see this most recent entry and make his own counter rebuttal. In the end, this thread of public bickering appears to be coming to an end. Naturally, the Alabaman will defend Jay Deas and toss a few more shots at Breland. Yet if he remains true to his word though, Breland will not respond and the heavy winds propelling this story are likely to die down.
Going forward however, there will be greater scrutiny placed on the working relationship of Wilder and Deas. What they do or do not accomplish will be under the greatest microscope of their careers. One thing should be certain though, if Wilder is hurt and in trouble, Deas is not throwing in any towel!
By: Bakari Simpson
