Deontay Wilder “vehemently denies” allegations he physically assaulted the son of his ex-partner, says the former world heavyweight boxing champion’s lawyer.
US outlet TMZ reports Kerron Swift has filed a civil lawsuit suing Wilder for claims including “battery, assault, emotional distress, and false imprisonment”.
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Swift – the son of Wilder’s ex-fiancee Telli Swift – claims the abuse took place between 2016 and 2024, a period during which he was a minor.
BBC Sport has not seen the lawsuit, but Wilder’s lawyer Paul Patterson confirmed it had been filed in Los Angeles.
He said his client denied allegations which were “riddled with complete and utter fabrications” and had “never physically disciplined any child”.
“We look forward to defending this case,” he added.
On Saturday, American Wilder beat Briton Derek Chisora by split decision in their heavyweight bout at London’s O2 Arena.
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That win came after the 40-year-old had lost four of his previous six bouts, and puts his fight record at 45-4-1.
Patterson said the timing of the lawsuit was a “classic smear campaign” to distract from the fight.
But the law firm representing Swift – the X-Law Group PC – told TMZ it “filed this action quietly and without a press release – the opposite of what we would have done if the intent were to generate publicity”.