Deontay Wilder’s Fired Coach Mark Breland Found in Care Facility After Family Appeal

Mark Breland was fired by Deontay Wilder after throwing in the towel to save him from further punishment against Tyson Fury. Six years later, the Olympic gold medalist has been located in a care facility after his own family sought help finding him.

Boxing writer Bill Dettloff detailed Breland’s condition in The Good Fight after the former world champion’s son and cousin posted a public appeal.

“The family of Mark Breland is seeking help in finding the champ,” read the title of the video.

Breland’s son, Anthony, said he had last seen his father in October 2025 and, before that, at his high school graduation in 2021.

According to Dettloff, a tip led members of Breland’s family to a facility in New Jersey. The 63-year-old is suffering from memory loss and cognitive impairment.

World Boxing News reported extensively on Breland’s bitter split from Wilder after the trainer threw in the towel during a brutal seventh-round defeat to Fury in February 2020.

“I’d rather die than go out with someone throwing the towel in,” Wilder said after the fight.

“I told all my trainers, no matter how it may look on the outside, no matter how you may love me or have that emotional feeling, don’t make an emotional decision.

There was initial confusion over Breland’s position before Wilder co-manager Shelly Finkel confirmed directly to WBN in October 2020 that the pair had split.

Wilder later suggested Breland had been part of a conspiracy surrounding the Fury defeat and even raised questions about the water he was given that night.

“I think he had something to do with my water as well. He was the only one who was handling my water.”

“I’ve had enough,” Breland said. “It got to the point where I didn’t or didn’t even have my fighter’s phone number.

Calls for Mark Breland to Receive Care

Breland was condemned for his decision to stop the Fury fight, but some in boxing have again backed the call he made that night.

“Breland 100% did the right thing stopping the 2nd Fury/Wilder fight,” read one social media comment.

The same post called for Breland to be given a private room at a highly rated assisted-living facility close to his blood relatives.

Breland was one of the most decorated amateur boxers the United States ever produced, winning Olympic gold in 1984 and compiling a remarkable 110-1 record before becoming a two-time welterweight world champion.

He later spent more than a decade helping guide Wilder from prospect to WBC heavyweight champion.

Their relationship ended with Breland making a split-second decision because he believed Wilder had taken enough punishment.

Breland paid for that decision with his job and was later accused of being part of a conspiracy surrounding Wilder’s defeat.

Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a veteran boxing reporter with 15+ years of experience. He has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside since 2010. Read full bio.

Source: www.worldboxingnews.net