Deontay Wilder v Tyson Fury Part 3: What will the American wear for his next ring walk? In pictures

Heavyweights are heading for another rematch, but Wilder can't blame his costume for defeat again

Deontay Wilder arrives in the ring ahead of his defeat against Tyson Fury in Las Vegas. AP

WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder enters the ring for the start of his title fight against Luis Ortiz at MGM Grand Garden Arena, in November 2019. AFP

Deontay Wilder wears a mask during the weigh-in for his fight with Tyson Fury in 2018. Getty

Deontay Wilder enters the ring prior to fighting Dominic Breazeale in Brooklyn in May 2019. Reuters

The first Fury fight: Wilder's costume for the drawn battle in Los Angeles in December, 2018. Reuters

Deontay Wilder wears a mask during his ring entrance for the title fight against WBC heavyweight champion Bermane Stiverne in January, 2015. AFP

Tyson Fury was hardly understated against Wilder before his victory. But he was sitting down for the ring 'walk'. Reuters

Deontay Wilder has activated his contract clause and will fight Tyson Fury for a third time in Las Vegas in July.

Some experts are questioning the motivation of Wilder's move after being destroyed in their second WBC title showdown in February, though another huge pay day will explain some of the temptation.

One of the biggest questions for Fury v Wlder Part 3, apart from how the fight will play out, will be what the American wears for his ring walk.

Wilder claimed the reason for his defeat against Fury was partly down to his pre-fight attire, and that a miscalculation with his costume proved costly in the first defeat of his career.

Wilder wore a $40,000 (Dh147,000) embossed armour-like costume as he made his way to the ring at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

The look covered Wilder's face and featured striking rhinestones along his jaw line and brow, with LED lights creating a red glow around his eyes. Above the mesh-like face mask was a black crown and Wilder also wore a long black cape, a chest plate and skulls as shoulder pads. Red lights also ran down his arms and lit up his shoulders and chest.

Wilder claimed the outfit weighed around 40 pounds (18kg), and by the time he had made his way to the ring his legs were compromised.

"He didn’t hurt me at all, but the simple fact is ... that my uniform was way too heavy for me," said Wilder. "I didn't have no legs from the beginning of the fight.

"In the third round, my legs were just shot all the way through. But I'm a warrior and people know that I'm a warrior.

"A lot of people were telling me, 'It looked like something was wrong with you'. Something was, but when you're in the ring, you have to bluff a lot of things.

“I was only able to put it on [for the first time] the night before, but I didn’t think it was going to be that heavy," he added. "It weighed 40, 40-some pounds with the helmet and all the batteries. I wanted my tribute to be great for Black History Month. I wanted it to be good and I guess I put that before anything.”

Wilder previously explained why he wears such elaborate costumes.

"I want to give boxing fans something they can remember me by," he told TMZ. "Not only just in knock outs, but by me expressing myself, so they can get their money's worth from the start to the finish. So that's why I started coming out with different costumes and things like that."

But he's confident he will regain his WBC crown. ""We will regain the title. I will be back. We will hold our heads up high. Your king is in great spirit. We will rise like a phoenix from the ashes and regain the title. I’ll see you in a few months, for the war has just begun. All my love to all my people.”

The eyes of the boxing world will be on his next production.