World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder has once again professed his desire to kill an opponent in the ring.
Wilder will look to defend his world title against fellow American Dominic Breazeale on Sunday (NZ time), and as he did in the lead in to his bout against TysonFury, Wilder has sent a warning shot to his opponent.
"This is the only sport where you can kill a man and get paid for it at the same time...so why not use my right to do so?
"This is a brutal sport, this is not a gentleman's sport; I keep saying this is not a gentleman's sport. We don't have to hit each other in the face but we do anyway. You can ask any doctor around the world and they'll tell you the head is not meant to be hit, anybody can go and in this particular time we have bad blood against each other.
Deontay Wilder on wanting to kill an opponent: “This is the only sport where you can kill a man and get paid for it at the same time...so why not use my right to do so?” #WilderBreazealepic.twitter.com/Li5bcSdHEn
Wilder has been criticised for making such statements in the past, with many saying his attitude is bad for the sport.
There's no love lost between the two fighters, who haven't seen eye to eye since an incident in early 2017 where the two got into a scuffle after Wilder beat Breazeale's friend Gerald Washington.
For Breazeale, revenge seems to be his primary motivator. He wants revenge on Wilder for what he sees as disrespectful and unacceptable behaviour, while Wilder has made his intentions for the fight clear.
Deontay Wilder will take on Dominic Breazeale with the WBC heavyweight title on the line. Photo / Getty Images
"His life is on the line for this fight and I do mean his life...I'm still trying to get me a body on my record," he told media. "Dominic Breazeale asked for this. I didn't go seek him, he sought me, so if it comes it comes."
The bout will be Breazeale's second attempt at claiming a world title after he fell short against Anthony Joshua in 2016. Since then he's won three fights in a row, all by stoppage.
He'll face a tough task bringing down Wilder though, who hasn't lost in 41 professional fights, with 40 wins (39 knockouts) and a draw.
