Former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder has been arrested and charged with possession of a concealed weapon following a routine traffic stop by the police in Los Angeles. The officers who stopped him found a 9mm handgun and marijuana in the car. Wilder has a court date set for 23 May and has been charged with a $10,000 fine and felony charge. If convicted, he could face up to three years in prison.
As the news of his arrest spread, Wilder tweeted that he was taking the matter seriously and that he would “rather be safe than sorry” implying that he had no intention of challenging the charges against him. The boxer had been training in California ahead of a potential return to the ring, though as yet, he has no scheduled fight. He has previously been linked to a fight with Anthony Joshua.
This isn’t the first time Wilder has had a brush with the law. In 2013, he was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence after a fight in Las Vegas. Despite this and his recent losses, he has been rumored to face Joshua, and the potential impact of this arrest on his future career remains unknown.
The incident occurred on 29 June when police stopped the boxer’s car for having tinted windows that violated the law. Despite recreational marijuana being legal in California, police can still search a car if they smell marijuana. Wilder was released on bail five hours after his arrest.
The latest arrest took place in the early hours of 20 July, and Wilder was picked up in Los Angeles on suspicion of carrying a concealed firearm in his vehicle. It is claimed that officers discovered Wilder was driving with illegally tinted windows, obstructed number plates, and small quantities of marijuana.
Wilder is a former WBC champion and has a record of 43-2-1, with 42 knockouts. He is best known for his three bouts against current WBC champion Tyson Fury, the most recent of which he lost.
The incident has once again highlighted the need for boxers, who are often in the public eye, to conduct themselves with responsibility at all times and avoid behavior that could attract negative attention.
