Malik Scott, Wilder’s former coach, thinks that the psychedelic drug Ayahuasca has contributed to his diminished desire for aggression in the ring.

“I think Deontay has a killer instinct in him that you can’t suppress, but I think he enjoyed Ayahuasca,” Scott said to Instant Casino. I believe that it might not have matched the mindset required in the ring.

“Because like he said, it made him a bit content and made him have an understanding of the smaller and softer things in life. And if you’re in that type of space then violence is not a top priority.

“But when you’re in a boxing ring violence has got to be [the] top priority. Violence wasn’t a top priority that night and I think that’s why we came up short. Deontay is a killer, he’s violent, he wants to put holes through you when he punches you, that Deontay didn’t show up that night, he couldn’t pull the trigger.”

The comeback

Wilder is now reportedly preparing to take on Zhilei Zhang, and Scott believes his old fighter will be a man reborn as he looks to get his career back on track.

“That’s not the fighter you’re going to see in his next fight,” he added. “He’s taken the initiative to start training way earlier. He knows our back is up against the wall and we know what we need to do.

“Everything is at stake, not his legacy, he’s already a legend, but concerning becoming two-time heavyweight champion, that part of his legacy is on the line now. I do not have less belief in him, it was just a bad night at the office, I’ve seen the best of them have those nights.

“Zhang is dangerous, but I’m very comfortable and happy with the fight because big Zhang is someone who makes you stay alert and makes you stay elusive.

“He’s a big man and he can punch but we know what we have to do to operate on him and do surgery on him and that’s what we are going to do.

“It’s going to be a surgical performance. What I really like about the fight is how dangerous Zhang is, a very dangerous opponent and that’s going to make Deontay even better.”