LAS VEGAS — If you don’t see Mark Breland wearing a medal today, someone should give him one.
In the aftermath of Tyson Fury’s domination of Deontay Wilder on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, there was disagreement about the actions longtime co-trainer Breland took to stop the fight in the seventh round.
Breland threw in the towel, prompting referee Kenny Bayless to stop the bout with a beaten and battered Wilder leaning against the ropes. The now former WBC heavyweight champion had been knocked down twice and endured significant punishment from the third round on. When Fury began to connect with more frequency, Breland had seen enough. But his actions weren’t supported by Wilder, who wanted to go out on his shield, nor lead trainer Jay Deas.
“Mark threw in the towel,” Deas said. “I didn’t think he should have. Deontay is the kind of guy that’s a ‘go out on his shield kind of guy’ and he will tell you straight up don’t throw the towel in.”
Deas also added: “You always have to consider Deontay is a fearsome puncher. He always has that shot to land a big shot and turn things around.”
Deas is wrong on two counts. First, you don’t throw Breland, a respected world champion and longtime co-trainer for Wilder, under the bus the way Deas did at the press conference moments after the bout. Deas likened the structure of Wilder’s team to a football coaching staff. If so, seldom if ever does the head coach blame the offensive coordinator for making a controversial call. Moments after the biggest heavyweight fight in recent history was no time to point the finger at Breland.
“During the round Mark said something about throwing the towel in and I told him I didn’t think he should do that,” Deas said. “Then the fight went a little longer and I saw the towel go in. We’ll talk about it and figure out what exactly happened there.”
Secondly, Wilder was done. The native of Tuscaloosa, Ala., who was making his 11th title defense, had nothing left. His legs were like overcooked spaghetti as he struggled to keep his balance. The Gypsy King was working him over, either connecting with hard punches or smothering Wilder with his weight. There was no devastating punch coming from the Bronze Bomber to “turn things.” Power comes from the legs and Wilder’s legs were gone.
There was no need for the 6-foot-9 273-pound Fury to keep pounding on Wilder for even one more round much less five more. There is a rematch clause in the contract and Wilder (42-1-1, 41 KOs) can live to fight another day thanks to Breland, the Brooklyn boxing legend.
“Deontay Wilder is a very tough guy,” Fury said. “He took a lot of rights. I think they did the right thing.”
Fighters often need to be saved from themselves and that’s the corner’s job. That’s what Breland was doing. Instead, Deas needs to acknowledge being out-trained by SugarHill Steward, who developed and had Fury execute a perfect game plan. Fury (30-0-1, 21 KOs) came in nearly 17 pounds heavier than their first bout, got Wilder to fight backing around, and muscled him with clinches and head locks every chance he got. Wilder was gassed by the third round.
The two had fought to a spilt draw in their first meeting on Dec. 1, 2018 in Los Angeles. But Fury dominated the rematch, losing just one round on three cards.
“I worked the game plan in the gym and put it into practice in the ring,” Fury said, adding, “I’ve always believed if he couldn’t beat me when I was 50 percent of the man I am today, he never had a chance [Saturday] night. I can’t wait for the exit fight, a rematch hopefully, if he wants it.”