After losing the WBC heavyweight title by seventh-round stoppage to Tyson Fury when co-trainer Mark Breland threw the towel into the ring, Deontay Wilder did a mini-media tour on Monday and stated that he was seriously contemplating removing Breland from his corner.
Wilder took a few days to gather his thoughts, and now he plans to keep the former Olympic gold medalist by his side going forward.
"I'm a warrior. I feel the same way I felt on fight night — if I have to go out, I want to go out on my shield," Wilder told ESPN on Friday evening. "But I understand that my corner and my team has my best interest at heart. Mark Breland is still a part of Team Wilder, and our team looks forward to preparing for the [trilogy fight]."
Controversy ensued immediately after the conclusion of the fight. Wilder's other co-trainer, Jay Deas, threw his fellow trainer under the bus, saying he didn't agree with Breland's decision because Wilder always has a chance to suddenly end a bout with his devastating right hand. Wilder also wasn't thrilled with Breland's actions.
"For Mark to do it, I was very heartbroken," Wilder told ESPN on Monday. "If I say statements like I want to kill a man [in the ring], then I have to abide by those same principles in the ring of him doing the same thing to me. I'd rather die than go out with someone throwing the towel in.
"He knows these things. It's been premeditated. I've said this for many years. I told all my trainers, no matter how it may look on the outside, no matter how you may love me or have that emotional feeling, don't make an emotional decision and do not ever throw that towel in because my pride is everything. I understand what it looks like, but when you have power like me, I am never out of a fight, no matter what the circumstances. I'm never out of a fight."
That wasn't the only statement Wilder (42-1-1, 41 KO) made on Friday. The "Bronze Bomber" took to his Twitter page and proclaimed he will be invoking a clause in the contract for the trilogy fight against Fury. He added that he will "rise like a phoenix from the ashes and regain the title."
"Hello, my people, my Bomb Squad Army, my Bomb Squad Nation, all my loved ones around the world," Wilder said. "I just wanted to let you know that I am here. Your king is here. We ain't goin' nowhere, for the war has just begun. I will rise again. I am strong. I am a king. They can't take my pride. I am a warrior. I'm a king that will never give up! I'm a king that will fight to the death. And if anyone don't understand that, they don't understand what it is to go to war, don't understand what it is to fight.
"We will rise again. We will regain the title. I will be back. We will hold our heads up high. Your king is in great spirit. We will rise like a phoenix from the ashes and regain the title. I'll see you in a few months. For the war has just begun. All my love to all my people."
A date for Fury-Wilder 3 is unknown at this time.