Deontay Wilder should have retired three years ago after Tyson Fury fights, claims Frank Warren

06/03/2024 06:35 AM

Frank Warren has told talkSPORT that he believes Deontay Wilder should have retired from boxing after his third fight with Tyson Fury in 2021.

The Gypsy King’s Queensberry promoter staged the 5 vs 5 show alongside Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom on Saturday night and saw his team emerge victorious, including over Wilder.

Warren’s team included Zhilei Zhang, who brutally KO’d the American in round five.

In the aftermath of this latest defeat, which followed his loss to Joseph Parker last year, many believe Wilder’s career is now at an end.

Asked if he’s ever had to tell a fighter to retire, Warren told talkSPORT Breakfast on Monday: “Yeah I have, I’ve done it on numerous occasions, but the problem is whether they listen.

“And unfortunately in boxing what they can do is go somewhere else.

“The thing about fighter is they are the first to know when their powers are gone and they’re not the fighters they were, but their the last to admit it.

“That’s the problem. And you’ve got people around who will keep saying, ‘Yeah, just have one more, have one more.’

“But you can’t do that because all you’re doing is putting miles on the clock and it comes back to haunt you in later life.

“He should have hung up his gloves I believe after he fought Tyson. Because those fights took a lot out of him.

“But let’s hope now that’s gonna be the case and that’s his last fight.”

Wilder’s rematch in 2020 with Fury was the first defeat of his career.

When he was knocked out in their punishing trilogy showdown in 2021, the Bronze Bomber had a period of inactivity and considered quitting the sport.

In the end though, he decided to return and beat Robert Helenius before losing to Parker and Zhang.

Regarding what’s next for Zhang, Warren explained: “He’s up there, we’re looking to probably do a big fight in China.

“We’re talking at the moment, we’re about to start negotiations with the people who approached us and that would be a great homecoming for him.

“He’s a lovely fella by the way, he doesn’t speak very good English, but he’s a great fella and he really got into the groove with the team.

“He’s got some big fights there and once Tyson Fury has his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk in December, there’s gonna be lots of defences.

“If he keeps winning he’s gonna be one of the guys who the winner has to fight.”