Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SPORTS
Tuesday 25 February 2020
Wilder says pre-fight costume wore him down

By TIM DAHLBERG it after Jay (Deas, Wilder's Africa, but plans to resume
AP Boxing Writer main trainer) told him not training once he gets back.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Deon- to do it really hurt me. He has 30 days to official-
tay Wilder says an elabo- And then I heard he was in- ly accept the third fight,
rate outfit he wore on his fluenced by another fight- which would be a 60-40
ring walk wore him down so er in the audience and it purse split in Fury's favor.
much that he didn't have makes a lot of conspiracy Fury and Wilder combined
the legs to withstand Tyson theories in your head why to sell the biggest live
Fury in their heavyweight he did it. It didn't make gate ($16.9 million) in Ne-
title fight Saturday night. sense." vada heavyweight fight
Wilder also said he would The former heavyweight history and, though the
execute a clause in his champion was knocked results have not been an-
contract for a third fight down twice by Fury in the nounced, the fight was ex-
with Fury, hopefully some- fight before his corner threw pected to have performed
time this summer. in the towel in the seventh well on pay-per-view. Both
"This summer with no fights round. It was his first loss in fighters were expected to
in between," Wilder told 44 fights and came after 10 make $30 million or more
The Associated Press in a successful title defenses. when the receipts are all
phone interview Monday. Wilder, who has always added up.
"I'm a warrior and I'm ready worn elaborate outfits into Wilder said he has gotten
to go again, but we're the ring, said he tried on an outpouring of love from
going to change a lot of the one he used in the fight people in the wake of his
things in camp." the night before in his ho- loss, the first in his 12-year
Wilder said the outfit — tel room to make sure he professional career.
which he said was a trib- could get it on and off. He He said the worst thing
ute to Black History Month said it was weighed down about the fight was that
— weighed him down and by sequins and ornamenta- he wasn't allowed to keep
that his legs weren't right tion and also included bat- fighting past the seventh
by the time the fight start- teries for his mask to light up round, when he was tak-
ed. Wilder said the entire when he got in the ring. ing a lot of punches to
getup, including a mask, "Going up the stairs (into the head without throwing
weighed some 40 pounds, Deontay Wilder arrives in the ring for a WBC heavyweight the ring) I knew immediate- many back.
and he knew by the end of championship boxing match against Tyson Fury, of England, ly it was a different change "I'm going out on my shield.
the second round that his Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in Las Vegas. in my body condition," he I'm a warrior," Wilder said.
legs were gone. Associated Press said. "After the second "If I say I'm willing to kill a
Wilder also said his assistant when he threw in the tow- corner in a third fight. round I had no legs, pe- man in the ring then I'm will-
trainer, Mark Breland, was el to end the fight at 1:39 "We had many discussions riod." ing to abide by that same
acting against previously of the seventh round and for years about this situa- Wilder said he is taking a principle as a warrior to die
agreed-upon instructions would not likely be in the tion and for him to still do previously scheduled trip to in the ring."q

MLB tells court attempts at cheating are a part of sports

By RONALD BLUM games en route to their that players often commit
AP Baseball Writer World Series title in 2017 intentional rule infractions
NEW YORK (AP) — At- and again in 2018. He in order to obtain an ad-
tempts at cheating are suspended manager AJ vantage over the course
a part of sports, Major Hinch and general man- of the game,” Cowen
League Baseball said in ager Jeff Luhnow for one wrote.
urging a federal judge to season each, and both MLB maintained “plaintiffs
dismiss a lawsuit by fantasy were fired by the team. got exactly what they bar-
contestants. Manfred fined the Astros gained for: contests deter-
Five men sued MLB, MLB $5 million, the maximum mined by baseball play-
Advanced Media, the under MLB rules and ers’ actual performance
Houston Astros and the stripped the team of its on the field, whatever the
Boston Red Sox in fed- next two first- and second- contributing factors, pre-
eral court in Manhattan, round draft picks. dictable or unpredictable,
claiming fraud, violation of He also is investigating al- may have been” and
consumer-protection laws, A fan holds a sign during a spring training baseball game legations against the Red added “not one plaintiff
negligence, unjust enrich- between the Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals Sox. claims to have lost any
Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020, in West Palm Beach, Fla.
ment and deceptive trade Associated Press In its papers, MLB cited fantasy baseball contest
practices by teams that vi- a 2010 opinion by Judge as a result of sign-stealing
olated MLB’s rules against are a never-ending source tions is underscored in this Robert Cowen for a 3rd or otherwise.”
the use of electronics to of sports television, talk case by the fact that clubs U.S. Circuit Court of Ap- Houston submitted papers
steal catchers’ signs. The radio, web and eleva- were publicly disciplined peals panel that upheld to dismiss, citing the Astros’
five said they participated tor commentary by sports for electronic sign-stealing the dismissal of a suit by a better performance on
in DraftKings fantasy base- pundits and fans alike,” violations during the 2017 New York Jets season tick- the road in 2017:
ball contests. MLB said Friday in papers regular season.” et-holder against the NFL, The Astros hit .279 at home
“Rules violations — large submitted to U.S. District MLB Commissioner Rob New England coach Bill Bill with 395 runs and 115 hom-
and small, intentional and Judge Jed Rakoff. “And Manfred ruled last month Belichick and the Patriots ers at home vs. road stats
unintentional, technical fans’ general awareness the Astros violated sign- over the Spygate scandal. of .284, 501 runs and 123
and game-changing — of the potential for infrac- stealing rules during home “It appears uncontested homers.q