Early Tuesday morning, former heavyweight boxing world champion Deontay Wilder (43-2-1, 42 KOs) was arrested in Los Angeles for possession of a concealed weapon. The Los Angeles Police Department reported that Wilder, 37, was taken into custody at 1:15 a.m. local time and was later released on a bond of $35,000, approximately five hours after his arrest. The concealed weapon charge is classified as a felony.
The arrest took place after officers pulled Wilder over in Hollywood for illegally tinted windows and an obstructed license plate on his Rolls Royce, according to TMZ. The officers reportedly smelled marijuana during the stop, which led to a search of the vehicle, where they discovered a 9mm gun.
Wilder, who has been recently linked to a potential boxing fight against England’s Anthony Joshua later this year, appeared to address the arrest in a social media post on Tuesday. “I’d rather be safe than sorry. The End,” he wrote on Twitter. The former Olympic bronze medalist, originally from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is best known for his professional career and a blockbuster trilogy against Tyson Fury, which took place from 2018 to 2021.
Apart from the potential bout against Joshua, Wilder has also been linked to a possible fight against former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. Fans and the boxing community await further news on how these recent developments might impact Wilder’s upcoming matches and his career.
Image Credit: Sky Sports