Deontay Wilder is at it again, causing problems because of the gloves. ‘The Bronze Bomber’ is due to clash with Derek Chisora on Saturday night at London’s O2 Arena. But before the final weigh-ins for the bout, a dispute had broken out between the two parties. Promoter Kalle Sauerland provided a bit of context about what went wrong. 

“There were some dramatics this morning at the weigh-in over the gloves,” Sauerland told iFL TV. “There were dramas, those dramas are currently being resolved. It isn’t our first rodeo, this isn’t uncharted territory. There is some issues around the gloves, I can confirm that. It was a big flash point. I’m confident we get it sorted, but there’s a big issue at the moment.” 

According to reports, the issue centered on Wilder’s insistence on wearing custom-made gloves that had not been authorized by the British Boxing Board of Control. The disagreement escalated during the pre-fight glove selection and rules meeting, which Wilder attended. The former WBC heavyweight champion even threatened to walk out of the bout. 

However, Derek Chisora appears to have defused the situation. After extensive back-and-forth discussions, he ultimately allowed Wilder to use his preferred gloves for the fight.

“The glove dispute is over. I am the f**king board,” Chisora said in a behind-the-scenes video shared by IFN. “Deontay has the right gloves.”

Later that day, both fighters stepped on the scales for their final weigh-ins. Wilder came in at 226.4 lbs, while Chisora—sporting a Tyson Fury mask—weighed 266.7 lbs, giving him a significant 40-pound advantage. In any case, this isn’t the first time Deontay Wilder has caused problems regarding the gloves for his fights.

Deontay Wilder and boxing gloves have been at odds

‘The Bronze Bomber’ and boxing gloves have been at odds ever since his rivalry with Tyson Fury turned controversial. After their 2018 draw, Wilder later questioned whether Fury’s gloves were improperly fitted, suggesting his opponent’s fist sat too far back, creating a loose, smushed look. 

Though no objections were raised at the time, the suspicion lingered. It intensified after their 2020 rematch, where Wilder publicly accused Fury of loading his gloves with a hard object and pointed to unusual bending and alleged injuries as proof. 

Officials, including the Nevada State Athletic Commission, found no wrongdoing. Ahead of their 2021 trilogy bout, concerns resurfaced over Fury’s gloves, particularly the padding. Despite repeated inspections clearing everything, Wilder’s mistrust endured, turning gloves into a lasting symbol of dispute in one of boxing’s fiercest rivalries.

It appears Deontay Wilder has been forever scarred by the losses to Tyson Fury. After all, his career has gone downhill since then. But can he beat Derek Chisora?