‘Captain’ Deontay Wilder Will Not Let the Pressure Get to Him

Wilder recently sat down for a heartfelt chat with Matchroom Boxing. In conversation, he spoke about the responsibility that Hearn bequeathed on him. “I’ve had pressure on my back ever since I was born. I was a natural-born leader. It’s a pleasure to be the captain and it’s a responsibility that I’m so familiar with,” he said.

Wilder further mentioned that while there is pressure in being a captain, he wouldn’t let it affect him or his performance in any way.

“I like the pressure, but it’s no pressure. We’re going to be two powerhouses in there trying to knock each other out. At the end of the day, nobody wants to see a 12-round fight when it comes to the heavyweights. And when they come to see the big boys, they want to see somebody get knocked out. Plain and simple,” he said.

Wilder, however, assured fans that it would be an interesting fight regardless of how long it lasts.

“Kiss His A*s”

The decision to make Wilder the captain hasn’t gone down well with his opponent, Zhang. In fact, he believes that Hearn made that decision in hopes of signing a contract with Wilder.

“Like I said the other day, I think he made a mistake,” he said during their press conference. “I think he made him the captain to kiss his a** to get a promotional contract.”

Hearn, on the other hand, quickly shut down Zhang’s claims. He mentioned that while he’d love to sign Wilder, that was not the reason why he made him the captain. “The war cry is the reason I made him captain. This guy is one of the most feared fighters in the world,” he said.