A Deontay Wilder sparring story previously not known to the boxing fraternity has now been doing the rounds ahead of his fight tomorrow night against Cuban Luis Ortiz.
Wilder has knocked out all but one man as a professional in his career to date.
But having said that, that occasion against Bermane Stiverne was put right in the rematch last year – when he brutally rendered the Haitian unconscious in quick time.
One question that used to be asked about Wilder a few years ago surrounded his chin but to be fair to him, for the most part, he’s largely answered that question in the pro ranks.
However speaking to the Daily Mail one heavyweight contender from the UK, Dillian Whyte, was keen to let the public know he’s seen Wilder decked in sparring before:
“I’ve seen Wilder spar, I’ve seen him get knocked out in sparring before, but I don’t tell sparring stories. I saw him get dropped in sparring before, but sparring’s sparring. Marvin Hagler used to get dropped in sparring a lot, Mike Tyson got dropped in sparring.”
He’s right when he says sparring is sparring.
Plenty of great fighters over the years have been rocked in sparring.
Even defensive geniuses like Floyd Mayweather have been known to have off days in sparring and get rocked badly.
But what counts however is if it happens or not under the lights.
On fight night.
Wilder takes on Luis Ortiz this weekend live on Showtime from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York tomorrow night.
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