Deontay Wilder has fascinatingly claimed that he will quit boxing if he loses his upcoming fight with Canadian Bermane Stiverne.
The WBC world heavyweight champion said the will “go do MMA” if Stiverne manages to pick up the win on November 4.
“Y’all can quote me on this. Y’all can put this on paper. Ya’ll can put this at the top of the headlines. Because the way I’m feeling about boxing right now, if Bermane Stiverne beats me, I will retire,” Wilder said.
“You can put that down.
"I will be out of the way. Boxing ain't gotta worry about me no more (if I lose) because it ain't really doing me no good anyway.
“Nobody don't really want to fight.
"All I wanted to do is prove that I am the best, and the best don't wanna fight, so what's the point of me being in this sport?"
Wilder claims that fellow heavyweights Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker, the two other world heavyweight champions, are failing to “walk the walk” in booking a title unification fight.
However, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn says that Wilder turned down $3million to fight Dillian Whyte and claims that it is in fact Wilder who is trying to dodge the big fights.
If Stiverne wins on Saturday, none of that will matter apparently as Wilder looks set to leave the sport for good.
The two fought back in January 2015 and Stiverne remains the only man Wilder has failed to knock-out, after the 32-year-old won by unanimous decision after 12 rounds.
"If Bermane beats me - if he beats me - y’all don't have to hear about me no more. I'm done. That's how serious it is,” Wilder added.
“It don't get more serious than that. So let the games begin.
"Like I said, if Bermane beats me, y'all don't have to hear about me no more. I'm gone. I'm outta here. I'm retiring. That's it.
"I might move to MMA or some s***. I'm outta here, and that's facts."
Wilder is odds on favourite to win the bout despite his threats of retirement.
Originally, Wilder was set to fight Luis Ortiz, but after the Cuban failed a drug test, Canadian Stiverne stepped in for his rematch.