Former Unified Cruiserweight World Champion and one-time Heavyweight Champion David Haye says that Deontay Wilder is integral to boxing’s biggest weight class.
Wilder has been out of the ring since his conclusive knockout loss to Tyson Fury in October 2021, and ‘The Hayemaker’ is raring for his return. Speaking to Fight Hub TV, Haye insisted that he would like to see ‘The Bronze Bomber’ take on all comers.
“We need big characters, big punchers, big personalities – that’s what Heavyweight boxing needs.
“It’s missed him since he’s been gone. There are so many of these young fighters coming through. Joyce, Dubois, Hrgović – so many names that are around the world level. Let’s mix it up. Let’s get it busy.”
Of Wilder’s 42 wins, 41 of them came by the way of knockout – often in devastating fashion via a right hand that has been hailed by some in the sport as one of the hardest punches in history.
He has three Premier Boxing Champions Knockout of the Year awards and can boast the fact that he brought a Heavyweight word title to America after the country’s longest period without one.
Despite his achievements, the freshest memories of Wilder in the minds of fight fans will be his trilogy with current WBC Champion, Tyson Fury. Haye spoke on those fights, praising the challenge the American brought to the ‘The Gypsy King.’
“He’s an amazing fighter, amazing character.
“I just rewatched the three fights with the number one heavyweight on the planet, Tyson Fury. He probably is the closest guy to beating him. He nearly knocked him out on a couple of occasions, he had him heavily hurt.”
The Brit is well-qualified to speak on Deontay Wilder’s power. It was, in fact, the training camp for his own fight with Fury in 2013 (later cancelled) that he brought the young heavyweight from Alabama in for sparring.
Haye may not have to wait too long for Wilder’s return. The 36-year-old’s manager Shelly Finkel, recently told The Sun that his fighter was in training in Las Vegas, with Robert Helenius in the mix of potential opponents.
Add to that a picture in the gym alongside now-cruiserweight Badou Jack, and it looks like we’ll be seeing ‘The Bronze Bomber’ step through the ropes in the not-so-distant future.