The decline of Deontay Wilder over the last twelve months has been shocking, as the former WBC heavyweight world champion picked up the third and fourth defeats of his career and seemingly lost any hope of returning to the heavyweight throne. Now, the hard-hitting American has opened up on a recently discovery of a broken arm.
Along with Anthony Joshua, Wilder was the most feared heavyweight on the planet just a few years ago, boasting God-given power that consistently shook opponents to their core upon impact.
‘The Bronze Bomber’ scored a decision win over Bermane Stiverne in 2015 to become the WBC world champion and would later rematch Stiverne to maintain his record of knocking out every opponent that he had faced during his 39-fight career – halting the Haitian in the first-round of their second encounter.
Deontay Wilder’s top-five knockouts are all absolutely brutal 😳
If you get hit by this man, chances are you aren’t getting up…
Tyson Fury next on the list? 👀 #WilderFurypic.twitter.com/lLyjQYogAS
— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) December 1, 2018
After seven defences of his title, the imposing Tuscaloosa-born sensation went toe-to-toe with Tyson Fury and fought to a controversial yet legendary split-draw, marking the first blemish of Wilder’s career, but their rematch and eventual trilogy resulted in Wilder’s first and second career defeats.
He would then fight just one-round in over two years before jumping into a showdown with Joseph Parker, looking to tee-up the long-awaited meeting with Anthony Joshua, as they fight on the same card in Riyadh.
However, it was Parker who came out on top and did so in style, whitewashing the now 39-year-old who seemed strangely reluctant to throw his trademark right-hand throughout and forgoing the chance to fight ‘AJ’ as a result.
Nevertheless, Wilder was keen to right those wrongs and jumped into a concerning clash with heavyweight bogeyman Zhilei Zhang just six months later, but showed little improvements and was brutally knocked out.
ZHILEI ZHANG KNOCKS OUT DEONTAY WILDER IN THE 5TH ROUND 😱🚨
(via @DAZNBoxing) pic.twitter.com/UP7kZGITSL
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 2, 2024
Consequently, many fans have suggested that it is time that the generational knockout artist should walk away from the sport now that his world title hopes have diminished and his fabled right-hand has vanished.
Yet, they may have a different opinion following Deontay Wilder’s interview with TMZ Sports, where he revealed that he fought both Parker and Zhang with a broken arm.
“I broke my arm way back in November sometime. I didn’t know. I had two tears on my shoulder. I could feel the pain, but I just thought it was old injuries. But I got an MRI [recently] and everything was f***ed up there, I didn’t know because I’ve got a high tolerance of pain.”
Wilder went on to reveal his willingness to take on former UFC heavyweight powerhouse Francis Ngannou, who has continuously pursued the lucrative crossover contest, despite defeats to Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua within the last 13 months.
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