Deontay Wilder blamed his loss to Tyson Fury on an elaborate pre-fight costume.
Wilder, who suffered a seventh-round TKO loss, said the 40-pound costume, worn as a tribute to Black History Month, was too heavy and left his legs “shot” before the fight had even begun.
Here the PA news agency looks at other sporting excuses, some more plausible than others.
Manchester United’s grey kit
Shane Warne’s diet pill
Lighton Ndefwayl’s tight jockstrap
David James’ Playstation addiction
New Zealand poisoned
1️⃣ DAY TO GO! #RWC2019
Our countdown concludes with the day that rugby united a nation. Nelson Mandela hands over the Webb Ellis Cup to Francois Pienaar as South Africa win #RWC1995 ?? pic.twitter.com/bU8TQo8gqX
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 19, 2019
South Africa claimed an historic Rugby World Cup final victory over the All Blacks on home soil in 1995, with the image of Nelson Mandela, in a Springbok shirt, handing the trophy to captain Francois Pienaar a memorable moment in sport. New Zealand, though, revealed many of their players had suffered food poisoning ahead of the game and put the blame on a – possibly fictitious – waitress called ‘Suzie’.
Ukraine croak
O’Sullivan and the streaker
Smith’s dropped catch
VIDEO: 1st session highlights, incl. vision of Steve Smith/Spidercam dropped catch – http://t.co/e15AUKDO0S #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/MkfTvhcnEU
— FOX SPORTS Cricket (@FOXCricketLive) January 8, 2015
Australia captain Steve Smith blamed an overhead camera for distracting him as he dropped a catch against India in 2015. Smith claimed Spidercam – a manoeuvrable camera suspended above the pitch by wires – was directly in his eye line as he dropped Lokesh Rahul during the fourth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Rahul was on 46 and went on to make 110. Darren Lehmann, Australia’s coach at the time, defended Spidercam, saying: “I think it’s good for the game. It’s not ideal, where it was positioned for that particular ball. I actually like watching it.”
Genetically modified Scots
