Deontay Wilder arrested: What to know after boxer is detained, released in Los Angeles

05-02-2023
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3 min read

Deontay Wilder spent some of his Tuesday morning behind bars, instead of between the ropes.

The 37-year-old boxer was arrested and later released in Los Angeles according to TMZ, following a routine traffic stop. He was arrested and charged with possession of a concealed weapon during the stop.

TMZ reports that Wilder was arrested following a routine traffic stop in L.A. Police officers pulled Wilder over, and found marijuana as well as a 9 mm handgun in the car.

The report says that Wilder was friendly and cooperative with law enforcement throughout the ordeal.

Wilder later seemingly responded to the arrest on Twitter:

"Iā€™d rather be safe than sorry. The End šŸ™šŸ¾," Wilder tweeted on Tuesday afternoon.

Deontay Wilder arrested: Fines, charges and possible sentence

The Mirror notes that Wilder has a court date set for May 23 and faces a $10,000 fine and a felony charge. If convicted, Wilder could face as much as three years in jail.

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The former WBC heavyweight champion was in California training for a return to the ring. He last fought and easily defeated Robert Helenius in October 2022.

Deontay Wilder next fight

As of now, Wilder does not have a fight scheduled for later in 2023.

Wilder has been rumored to face off against Anthony Joshua in a long-awaited heavyweight clash, with Joshua recently saying a date has been set. A potential bout with Joshua was floated as a possible co-main event for a heavyweight showcase also featuring Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.

It's unclear how the arrest may affect any ongoing negotiations.

Wilder, nor his attorney, has yet to release a statement on the matter. The LAPD has yet to release a statement, as well.

In 2013, Wilder was arrested and charged with domestic abuse stemming from an incident in Las Vegas. The matter was ultimately settled out of court.