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2019 Wilder Retains WBC Title Three-Time Formula

22nd, At Barclays Center

D e o n t a y
May Wilder dis- One Champion Niki
patched Dominic
| Breazeale with a Lauda Dies, Aged 70
EXAMINER lightning-quick hree-time Formula and standard for us all. Away line, Niki, in 2003.

first
round
to
knockout
remain the WBC
In later years, he served as
One world champi-
IRISH h e a v y w e i g h t Ton Niki Lauda has from the public gaze, he was the non-executive chairman
a loving and caring husband,
champion.
With a steam- died at the age of 70. father and grandfather. We of the Mercedes team and
The former racing driver
will miss him very much.”
formed a close bond with
roller right hand, the Bronze Bomber sent the title challenger “passed away peacefully”, his Lauda narrowly escaped driver Lewis Hamilton, who
crashing to the canvas at the Barclays Center just two minutes family said on Monday in a death in 1976 when his joined the team in 2013.
and 17 seconds into the opener. statement reported by the Ferrari crashed at the Over the past few
The devastating KO extended the 33-year-old’s unbeaten Austria Press Agency. Nurburgring in Germany. decades, Lauda twice under-
record to 41 wins and a draw from 42 bouts. Tributes poured in for the He made a miraculous went kidney transplants,
“There’s been a lot of animosity and a lot of words that Austrian, who was called a recovery despite horrific receiving an organ donated
were said and it just came out of me tonight,” wilder said. “legend” by British racing burns and finished second in by his brother in 1997 and a
“When I hit him with the right hand the first time, his body driver Jenson Button. the championship to James kidney donated by his girl-
language changed.” He tweeted: “A legend has Hunt. friend in 2005.
Wilder’s 20th first round knockout came after a rapid start left us. Rest in peace Niki.” The rivalry between the In August last year, he
to the bout in New York, the champion throwing an early Lauda was also mourned pair was later made into a underwent a lung transplant
right to set the tempo. by the McLaren Formula film starring Daniel Bruhl as that the Vienna General
The energetic start exposed the Bomber to a shot by One team, who wrote: “All Lauda and Chris Hemsworth Hospital said was made nec-
Breazeale as he came back off the ropes. at McLaren are deeply sad- as Hunt in 2013. essary by a “serious lung ill-
But the counterattack lasted seconds before Wilder, after a dened to learn that our He went on to win two of ness”.
jab with the left, unleashed the decisive blow. friend, colleague and 1984 his three titles as well as He was released for reha-
The right hand connected with Breazeale’s jaw and the Formula 1 World Champion, becoming a prominent figure bilitation nearly four months
challenger crumpled on the spot, lying spread eagle as Wilder Niki Lauda, has passed away. in the aviation industry. later but was back in hospital
danced around the ring. “Niki will forever be in In 1979 he left the sport to in January with influenza.
Breazeale managed to get to his feet, but dizzily stumbled our hearts and enshrined in concentrate on setting up his The doctor that per-
backwards into the ropes as the referee made it clear the fight our history.” airline, Lauda Air. formed the transplant,
was over. His family added in their He briefly returned to rac- Walter Klepetko, confirmed
Wilder’s next challenge could come in the form of a block- statement: “His unique suc- ing following an offer from his death early on Tuesday
buster showdown with Anthony Johsua or a re-match with cesses as a sportsman and McLaren, winning the F1 dri- morning, the Associated
Tyson Fury. entrepreneur are and remain vers’ championship for a Press reported.
Wilder’s last fight, a bout with Fury in December, ended in unforgettable. third time in 1984, before Lauda is survived by his
a controversial draw. “His tireless drive, his retiring for good the follow- second wife Birgit, and his
Many felt the American was fortunate to keep his unbeaten straightforwardness and his ing year. children, Max, Mia, Mathias,
record intact following the fight. courage remain an example Lauda founded a new air- Lukas and Christoph. C
Wilder said on Sunday: “The rematch will happen, like all
these other fights will happen. The great thing is all these
fights are in discussion. The big fights will happen.” C

Fury Suggests Wilder Rematch
‘In March Or April’

Tyson Fury has revealed that his sought-after rematch with
Deontay Wilder is likely to take place next spring.
The rival heavyweights fought to a thrilling and controver-
sial draw when contesting Wilder’s WBC title in Los Angeles
in December, and then surprised and disappointed when an
immediate rematch was not announced.
Wilder instead on Saturday made his latest title defense by
stopping Dominic Breazeale and Fury is preparing to next
month fight the little-known Tom Schwarz in Las Vegas hav-
ing recently signed a long-term deal with ESPN.
That Wilder will again soon need a challenger, and
Anthony Joshua is next week fighting Andy Ruiz in New York,
means that demand is again growing for them to fight for all
four world titles, but as Press Association Sport previously
reported, the rematch between Wilder and Fury is likely to
take place first, and in 2020.
“Deontay Wilder cannot run from Tyson Fury forever,”
the 30-year-old Fury told ESPN. “The fight has to happen.
“This rematch has got to happen, but it won’t be in May,
June, July or August.
“This fight, I’m being told, is likely to happen in March or
April next year.”C