Deontay Wilder reveals he works out by scuba diving in the lake at his mansion – and hasn’t ‘run a day in his life’
DEONTAY WILDER has revealed he ditches traditional long runs for scuba diving in his lake and doing pull ups on the back of his boat.
Ahead of the heavyweight world champion’s next WBC title defence, against Luis Ortiz on Saturday, The Bronze Bomber revealed he uses scuba diving as a recovery exercise.
Wilder, who uses water based training throughout camp, said: “For those that don’t know, I’m a certified scuba diver.
“I enjoy it and I’ve been doing it for a few years now. It gives me relaxation and helps keep pressure off the muscles in my body.
“It helps my body tremendously. It’s also strengthening my legs and expanding my lungs so that I have more stamina. Water is great for exercise and I love it.”
The Alabama puncher is a late starter in the sport, only picking up the gloves three days before his 21st birthday as a means to make money for his daughter Naieya, who suffered with spina bifida at birth.
Within three years Wilder won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics Games – later becoming world champion in his 32nd fight after going the distance for the first time to outpoint Bermane Stiverne.
But on the road to becoming WBC king, the American admitted he did not spend a minute on the road running.
Before his fourth title defence – against Chris Arreola in July 2016 – Wilder revealed all his cardio training was done in the boxing gym.
Or in his lake, behind the Tuscaloosa mansion he lives in, even using the back of his boats to do pull ups in.
Wilder said: “I don’t run a day in my life.
“I can’t say I run miles of roadwork, because I don’t. I don’t have to, I’m blessed to still have the stamina, and not get tired.
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“I’ve got a nice mansion outside and there’s a big lake, there’s water. So that’s where I get all my work from – water.
“It can be wonders what water can do to your whole body. Sometimes I do a workout from my boat, I got two boats.
“Sometimes I get on the back of it and do pull ups from the back of it as the resistance from the water comes to get me. It’s a hell of a workout.