Deontay Wilder’s latest training footage has fans excited to see him return to the ring in the near future.
The Alabama slammer was last in the ring back in October of 2022 for just three minutes. His first round knockout of Robert Helenius marked a return to the sport following two bruising defeated to Tyson Fury, and reminded the heavyweight division of his danger.
Despite the excitement he brings to the ring, fans and pundits have, over the years, talked down his technical ability. The man who won a Bronze Medal 2008 Olympic Games is known firmly as a puncher rather than a boxer.
That was perhaps on show most in the second Fury fight, where the Brit comprehensively negated any opportunity for Wilder to have success.
In his latest clip from camp, Wilder has shown that he’s working on expanding his arsenal with the help of trainer and former opponent, Malik Scott.
Deontay Wilder back throwing serious leather in training 🔥🔥
🎥 @MalikKingScottpic.twitter.com/JXgBBuXMNV
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) March 29, 2023
The footage sees Scott coaching his charge starting with combinations, movement and breaking down an opponent’s defence. Wilder, for his part, is zoned in.
Of course, his trademark power punches make an appearance, but not before a sharp double jab and some other good signs that there’s a focus on where he may have been lacking before.
Fans were largely impressed with the clip, with one hoping that Wilder could apply what he was doing to his fights. He was branded ‘quick’, ‘sharp’ and ‘silky’, with praise given to Scott’s work since he joined the camp in 2021 – although sympathy for his hands and how they would feel after a session.
A couple of fans predicted that the current version of Wilder would beat Anthony Joshua – something we’re perhaps as close to putting to the test as ever.
Of course, there will be the section of fans who – perhaps rightly – point out that any fighter can look good on pads and will revert to type when faced with a live opponent.
Indeed, it’s what many pundits believe happened in Wilder’s third fight with Fury – the American showed glimpses of a game plan that would work the champion’s body, but by the third round he was back to head hunting for a highlight reel KO.
Who he faces next is unknown, even despite an order from the WBC that it be Andy Ruiz Jr. He has been linked with Oleksandr Usyk and the Anthony Joshua fight is one that still holds intrigue despite both men being former champions rather than current.