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:
"Iād rather be safe than sorry. The End šš¾," 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.
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.