DEONTAY WILDER will step back into the ring on June 27, ESPN reports, aiming to reignite his boxing career.
The former WBC Heavyweight champion faces 37-year-old Texan Tyrrell Herndon in a 10-round bout at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas. Wilder’s chances of becoming champion again have faded after back-to-back losses. In June 2024, he suffered a TKO defeat to Zhilei Zhang, just six months after a lopsided points loss to former WBO titlist Joseph Parker.
Despite those setbacks, Wilder, 43-4-1 (42 KOs), remains a heavy favourite to overpower Herndon and notch another KO. Global Combat Collective promotes the event, dubbed ‘Legacy Reloaded,’ with co-promoter Joshua Chasse telling ESPN, “This is Wilder’s legacy reloaded. He’s still one of the hardest punchers in boxing. He’s on the road back to becoming the heavyweight champion of the world, and this is the first step.”
Wilder’s path hasn’t been without detours. In January, he reportedly signed to fight journeyman Curtis Harper in Atlanta on April 26, but the bout fell through, leaving fans questioning his next move. Earlier this year, Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh stirred headlines by pushing for a blockbuster clash between Wilder and long-time rival Anthony Joshua—especially after Tyson Fury’s social media retirement announcement. “I want to see Joshua and Wilder now if Tyson is not available,” Alalshikh said on Talksport. “Why not Joshua and Wilder?”
Instead, Wilder’s return pits him against Herndon, 24-5 (15 KOs), a considerable step down from Joshua’s calibre. Herndon’s recent record offers little hope for an upset—his latest loss was a second-round stoppage to prospect Richard Torrez, with early defeats also handed by heavyweight contender Efe Ajagba and cruiserweight Brandon Glanton. Still, if Herndon shocks the world, it could mark the end for one of boxing’s most explosive fighters.
