Deontay Wilder claims he's 'more sensitive'; than before. Photo: Steve Marcus/Reuters
Deontay Wilder has fought just one competitive round in the 26 months since his epic world title trilogy with Tyson Fury in Las Vegas, but the most devastating knockout artist in the history of the division has not been idle. Instead, he worked on self-improvement with psychedelic drugs at a certified center in Costa Rica.
Wilder told Telegraph Sport that an ayahuasca retreat made him “one of the happiest people in the world” and “more sensitive”, but that didn't stop the 6ft 7in American from claiming this week that he is “training to be a killer, and I like this feeling.”
“The Bronze Bomber” is preparing for his debut in Saudi Arabia, where he will face fellow former world champion Joseph Parker at Reckoning Day in Riyadh next weekend. The two former champions are among 10 of the world's top 15 heavyweights, a list that also includes Anthony Joshua, who will face New York Swede Otto Wallin.
But Wilder, who will enter the lucrative game new world heavyweights in Saudi Arabia, do so after a stay at Rhythmia, an upscale resort in Costa Rica.
“Oh, man, ayahuasca was… man, it was one of the best things I've ever experienced and I'm glad I experienced it,” Wilder said. “One of the best trips, it was wonderful for me, and if you ask my wife [Telly Swift, reality TV star and perfume designer], she'll say it made me more sensitive, and she's probably right.” but it also made me happier.”
Wilder is much happier now. Photo: Al Bello/Getty Images
His story of being transformed by a psychedelic ayahuasca drug program at a luxury plant-based medical center belies the ambitions of the 38-year-old, who is still expected to face Joshua and even mixed martial arts fighter Francis Ngannou in a fight. Rhythmia Ayahuasca Retreat Center bills itself as one of the first legal, medically licensed plant medicine retreat centers in the world, and despite a first-round knockout of Robert Hellenius, Joshua's most recent victim, his only boxing in just over two years later, Wilder looks to be height.
By the way, Wilder is not alone in immersing himself in the psychedelic world of self-discovery. Boxing legend Mike Tyson, hockey player Daniel Carcillo and UFC fighter Ian McCall also took part in similar programs.
Wilder added: “I appreciate even the smallest of the smallest things – and I’m not saying I didn’t before – but the level of appreciation has increased. Ayahuasca has done a lot of wonderful things for a lot of people, not just me, where they have brought validation into their lives or some kind of understanding of the path they are on in their lives. I look forward to doing this many, many more times. I'm really going to do that after this fight.” Wilder, who explained that this was done by taking herbal medicine at a retreat in Costa Rica, added: “Sometimes people get very scared and you're afraid of certain things. things like this or what it will be… but in this place you may not see what you want, you may not get what you want, but you will leave with what you need.< /p>
“They made the drug on site, DMT (dimenthyltryptamine), and it was just a wonderful experience. I highly recommend everyone try this, it really has helped me in my life. I am one of the luckiest people I know in life, and God is good.”
At this point, it is important to note that while ayahuasca itself is not outlawed in the United Kingdom, the production of any plant or substance is , containing DMT, is a Class A felony, preventing its use on this side of the Atlantic.
Now Wilder's focus has shifted to Parker and another victory. “My main thing is to put on a great performance and a devastating knockout,” explained Wilder, who has 42 knockouts out of 43 career wins.
“Parker should be worried, anyone who faces me should be worried, I always say women lie, men lie, but the numbers don’t lie, you know I’m the strongest boxer in history. Every guy I've faced I've either knocked out or put on the canvas, so I'm very dangerous and he should know that. In my right hand there is a blessing and here we are again, in another time, in another place and on another date, so may the best man win when the day of reckoning comes on December 23.
“I just want to show the magnificent performing in front of fans during his debut in Saudi Arabia. That's all, nothing more, nothing less, I'm just looking for a devastating knockout and an amazing fight.”
Joseph Parker is Wilder's next opponent. Photo: Ahmed Yosri/Reuters
Wilder imagined the finish time and time again. “I don't think it's going to be a long fight if you ask me, I think it'll be over before you know it, I'm the type of fighter that you sit on the edge of your seat because you don't know what's going to happen but when that happens, bam, and that's what everyone knows me, you gotta be ready, when Wilder fights, you can't go to the bathroom, you can't go eat anything, you can't turn your head and talk to your neighbor because everything can end at any moment.”
A long layoff, Wilder argues, doesn't matter. “I always tell people that my body wasn’t there, but my mind never left me, and even though I wasn’t in the ring a lot, I was going to the gym, training. I'm more ready than ever and December 23rd will tell his own story, I can say whatever I want, he can say whatever he wants, but December 23rd will tell his own story.”
After win Wilder wants Joshua next if he beats Wallin. “I see Joshua winning a fight if his mind is in the right place, if he goes out there with self-confidence and the desire to win, I see him winning that fight, but if he goes into the fight thinking about what will happen further, especially when it concerns me or something else besides this, then he can get into big trouble. Hopefully everything will work out and we'll both win and then start a business together next year.”
Moreover, there has been talk of a Wilder-Ngannou fight next year. “It will be one or the other. But what I know for sure is that next year I'll have Joshua or Ngannou, so the future is bright and I'm looking forward to whether I get in the ring with both of them or just one of them. But I'm grateful for it all.”
Day of Reckoning, Saturday, December 23, during the Riyadh season, will be available live on TNT Sports Box Office and DAZN
Recent Comments