Deontay Wilder is in a career rut, and it’s bad enough that many pundits and fans are calling for his retirement – something that has gotten in the way Oscar De La Hoya the wrong way.
After his latest loss, many called on Wilder to hang up his gloves, but De La Hoya believes that is a decision that belongs to Wilder and that people should not weigh in on what he should do.
“Deontay Wilder got knocked out, okay? But there’s no need to hit him,” De La Hoya said in an Instagram Live. “There’s no need to say, ‘Oh, he should retire and this and that.’ There’s no need to hit him. Deontay Wilder will decide whether he wants to retire or not.
“You have to respect the man and respect his decision. My thought is to never tell a fighter when to retire. It’s a personal decision. It’s a decision only a fighter should make. This is our livelihood, this is our love, this is our passion.”
Wilder is 1-4 in his last five starts and has been stopped in three of those losses. Last Friday, Chinese Zhilei Zhang eliminated him in the fifth round of the fight in Saudi Arabia. For many, it’s not just the losses, but also Wilder’s appearance.
De La Hoya invites Wilder to take some time off, ignore the criticism and then make a decision about his career.
“So, Deontay, keep it up, man,” De La Hoya said. “Whatever you do, whatever you decide, take your time, go on vacation and take your beautiful family. When you go back and make the decision, you will make the right decision in your heart, for yourself. This is a very personal decision. This is life, so take your time, brother.”
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