Deontay Wilder

Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder is a former WBC World Heavyweight Champion and one of the most exciting heavyweight boxers of modern generations.

Wilder is widely regarded as one of the most explosive punchers of all time with 97.67% of his wins ending by knockout.

Deontay Wilder was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on October 22, 1985. Like many fighters, Wilder emerged from a tough upbringing in a rough neighbourhood. Living alongside his three siblings, young Deontay was raised in a hardworking, religious single-parent household and his athletic prowess quickly became apparent as he took to baseball and American Football. 

With the guidance of trainer and mentor Jay Deas, Wilder turned to boxing, representing his nation at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. As Deontay explained to Boxing News in November 2008, shortly before turning pro: “My little daughter is my heart and my inspiration”. Naieya was born with spina bifida.

2007 National Golden Gloves

Preliminaries 1/16: 30-04-2007, (91kg), Deontay Wilder RSC1 Mario Morales; 

Preliminaries 1/8: 02-05-2007, (91kg), Deontay Wilder WO Marc Ward; 

Quarterfinals: 03-05-2007, (91kg), Deontay Wilder 4:1 Jose Flores; 

Semi-finals: 04-05-2007, (91kg), Deontay Wilder 3:2 Isiah Thomas;

Final: 05-05-200, (91kg), Deontay Wilder 5:0 David Thompson.

2007 World Championships

Taking part in the AIBA World Championships, hosted in Chicago, on Wednesday, October 24, 2007, Wilder lost to Krysztof Zimnoch 23-20 and was eliminated.

2008 Olympics

While boxing at the 2008 Summer Olympics, Deontay Wilder defeated Abdelaziz Toulbini (Algeria) 10:4 in the preliminaries and defeated Mohamed Arjaoui (Morocco) 10+:10 (tiebreaker criteria) in the quarter-finals before losing to Clemente Russo (Italy) 1:7 in the semi-finals.

As a sizeable specimen with clear punching power and an Olympic bronze medal to his name, it was inevitable that Wilder would turn his hand at the professional code. Shortly after exiting the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Wilder signed a contract with Mike Tyson’s former manager, Shelly Finkel. Jay Deas of Skyy Boxing Promotions would handle the initial portion of his career. Oscar De La Hoya would take a keen early interest as Wilder built himself up on local shows at the beginning.

After turning professional on November 15, 2008, Wilder was extremely active on the way up. Averaging six fights a year across the embryonic stages, Wilder used the opportunities presented to hone his craft and score some explosive knockouts. Notable victims included Florida journeyman Harold ‘Hit Man’ Sconiers and Mississippi’s 398 pounds Dustin Nichols, aka ‘Big Worm’, who sent a discoordinated Deontay to the ropes in their 2010 encounter. That incident became a point of contention around Wilder’s career prospects in early online message boards.

Wilder also defeated former light-heavyweight title challenger DeAndrey Abron, WBO heavyweight title challenger Damon Reed, Jamaica’s Owen ‘What the Heck’ Beck, Trinidad’s former International Prizefighter participant Kertson Manswell, 14-0 Damien ‘Bulldog’ McCreary and 13-0 Kelvin Price. It was a number of bludgeoning first-round knockouts over Audley Harrison, Sergei Liakhovich and Malik Scott that made people take notice of the immense power as Wilder closed in on his title shot.

Bermane Stiverne vs Deontay Wilder

Wilder boxed Stiverne on January 17, 2015, in the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas. Vitali Klitschko had been the WBC heavyweight champion before vacating the title in 2013 to focus on political unrest in Ukraine. The WBC granted him Emeritus status and in Vitali’s absence, the vacant belt was contested between Stiverne and Chris Arreola. That fight was a rematch of a WBC Silver title bout that had taken place a year before.

Stiverne (ranked #3) won the first fight on points and stopped Arreola (ranked #6) in six rounds in their rematch. The second fight was agreed on the basis that the winner would make his first defence against Deontay Wilder. Wilder had cemented his high ranking by winning the WBC Continental Americas heavyweight title by first destroying former WBO champion Sergei Liakhovich and stopping Nikolai Firtha in a defence. 

When the Stiverne fight came around, the pre-fight consensus was that Wilder would win by knockout or Stiverne would outbox him and expose his poor fundamentals. Fighting on Showtime, the card was labelled “Return to Glory” as America sought a new heavyweight king. Don King represented Stiverne in the promotion.

Wilder used his long jab and movement to sweep most of the rounds as Stiverne’s lack of output cost him. The pair rematched in 2017 when Wilder, now a confident, established champion, hammered his foe in the first round. Almost 16 pounds heavier than in their first meeting, Stiverne had not boxed for two years when they met for the second time.

Deontay Wilder vs Tyson Fury

Deontay Wilder defended his WBC heavyweight title against Tyson Fury in the Staples Center, Los Angeles on December 1, 2018. The bout was officially announced on September 22. Fury outweighed the champion by almost 45 pounds. Wilder dropped Fury in rounds nine and 12 and the fight ended in a split draw with judge Phil Edwards scoring it 113-113, Alejandro Rochin 115-111 in Wilder’s favour and Robert Tapper 114-112 to Fury.

In the final round, Fury went down heavily and was close to being counted out by referee Jack Reiss. He made it to the final bell and Reiss’ refereeing arguably forged the classic trilogy. Showtime broadcast on pay-per-view in America and BT Sport in the UK. Both men were unbeaten entering the contest.

Deontay Wilder vs Tyson Fury II

After their exciting, debatable draw at the close of 2018, Wilder and Fury went their separate ways, having two fight each (both wins) before agreeing to a rematch which took place on February 22, 2020 in the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas. Both fighters came in heavier than in the first contest. 

Wilder’s WBC heavyweight title was on the line as well as Lineal heavyweight status. Wilder was dropped in rounds three and five. Fury was deducted a point in round five. Wilder’s chief cornerman, Mark Breland, threw the towel in during round seven to save his man. 

The judges’ scorecards were wide in favour of Fury at the time of the stoppage: Steve Weisfeld, 59-52, Dave Moretti, 59-52 and Glenn Feldman, 58-53. Wilder later claimed that wearing a heavy costume suit to the ring had hampered his performance due to decreased energy levels.

Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder III

On October 9, 2021, Wilder and Fury met for a third time. Neither man fought in the near-20 months between bouts. Wilder had forced the fight through the court system, scuppering a Fury-Joshua fight that had been mooted to happen next. Fury was defending the WBC title he had taken from Wilder in their second fight. They once again boxed in Las Vegas, but this time in the T-Mobile Arena. Fury scored a comprehensive 11th-round knockout to end the rivalry conclusively. Wilder was dropped three times in total and Fury went down twice.

Jay Deas

Wilder first hooked up with Jay Deas in 2005 as a 20-year-old. Serving as Wilder’s long-time trainer and, at times, his manager, Deas remains a constant in the corner. Based in Alabama, Deas has worked as a judge, matchmaker, and promoter with Skyy Boxing promotions and training in the Skyy Boxing Gym.

Mark Breland

Former Olympic gold medallist and professional world champion Mark Breland got involved in Wilder’s career when he turned professional in 2008. Although Jay Deas was recognised as the head trainer, Breland later revealed that he was happy to stay out of the limelight. While Deas covered duties on camera, Mark was content covering boxing duties like wrapping hands. Breland’s role was largely unnoticed until he made the decision to pull Wilder out of the Fury rematch after sustaining what he deemed to be insurmountable punishment.

On Friday, September 25, 2020, Wilder’s manager, Shelly Finkel, confirmed to reporters that Wilder had parted ways with Breland. Breland’s position had been under threat since he threw the towel in against Tyson Fury in their February 2020 rematch, causing Wilder (who had been dropped twice) to suffer a seventh-round defeat. Wilder was behind on all three scorecards. Co-trainer Jay Deas was later critical of Breland’s decision to stop the fight.

Malik Scott

Ahead of the third Fury fight, Wilder confirmed in June 2021 that Malik Scott had been promoted to head coach. Scott, a longtime friend and former knockout victim of Wilder, had been working in the corner alongside Deas and Breland. Following Breland’s departure, he was elevated for his “mindset and genius”, according to Deontay.

Deontay Wilder’s fighting style has been a great source of debate since his debut. Based on frenzied attacks laced with ferocious bursts of windmill power, Wilder possessed the power to turn any fight around and fought on that basis. At times appearing uncoordinated and unwieldy, Wilder’s jab occasionally came out, mostly as a distraction tool to allow the right hand behind it. Wilder’s chin was often questioned, but when sent into the trenches, his heart and durability were there for everyone to see.

PBC

Wilder boxed under Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions for the early portion of his career. In 2013, Wilder signed up with Al Haymon as an advisor. He would eventually join Haymon’s PBC outfit on a permanent basis.

In February 2023, Wilder stated that he was a free agent and open to offers from any promotional entity but had no problem with the PBC, which, in his opinion, was still thriving.

Matchroom Boxing

Wilder would later hook up with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing in order to box Zhilei Zhang on the 5 vs 5 card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Deontay Wilder has been a big part of boxing culture since he became a world champion. His “Bomb Squad” catchphrase gained a huge number of followers who created a number of videos and content in support of Wilder after the second Tyson Fury fight. Many were centred on theories regarding Tyson Fury’s conduct and gloves used. Away from the ring, Wilder has signed endorsement deals with Raising Cane’s chicken restaurant, Purkana CBD and Everlast boxing equipment.