Heavyweight Deontay Wilder was knocked out cold years before running into the Chinese juggernaut Zhilei Zhang in June.
‘Big Bang’ Zhang knocked Wilder out in a Saudi Arabia slobber knocker. Since then, questions have remained about whether Wilder will ever fight again.
The former long-reigning WBC champion has been the subject of many sparring stories, including an infamous session with David Haye in the UK and a battle with Filip Hrgovic – both in 2013.
Part of that European tour, designed to toughen Wilder up for a world title that would eventually come in 2015, saw “The Bronze Bomber” share the ring with the unified champion Wladimir Klitschko.
According to old rival Dillian Whyte, it was quite the education for Wilder. Whyte said Wilder got knocked out cold in an ill-fated training camp with Klitschko.
Deciphering whether it’s true, as Wilder’s ex-mandatory challenger [who still holds a grudge against the Americans] started the rumor, still irks American fans. However, some in the sport believe the report to be accurate.
Whyte claimed Klitschko placed Wilder unconscious as he attempted to go hard against Haye. But when moving in, Wilder couldn’t avoid getting caught, even with his hands up. Speaking to Sky Sports before his title shot against Tyson Fury, Briton Whyte said Wilder was smashed flush by a significant right hook and thumped him oblivious on the canvas.
It was a KO of the highest order from Klitschko’s power in both hands. According to further analysis, The Ukrainian did not expect to take Wilder out with the shot.
“Klitschko backs up and switches his foot tactics. Shots to the body and feints followed it. The shot hit, and bam. He [Deontay Wilder] had his hands up. He was gone. It wasn’t a knockdown. He was thumped cold [by Klitschko],” Whyte told Sky.
Whyte has always had a raw nerve for Wilder, evident in his past comments about the 38-year-old. The pair have never seen eye-to-eye, and with both in a top-division rut, nobody can rule out a future fight before they both retire.
“People get frightened by Wilder for the things he says. The way he behaves. But, well, I’m not scared of him,” said Whyte. “Man, if you fight in the same weight class as someone, and they scare you, find a different hobby. Work your regular nine to five.
“You can’t be scared of these dudes. The way of acting that he does and the things you hear from him about him wanting to kill people, I don’t care about that bluff. I know it would not be easy to beat him, but he doesn’t usually move too much in the early doors. But if you take his right hook away, it gets a bit easier.
“You may think, ‘He won’t be able to take his right hook away.’ But as a professional, you know how to do things. You think of these guys like, ‘He has got power, and he’s speedy, quick,’ but I always find a technique to harm and wound these guys.
“I think with Deontay Wilder, you must stay on his right side and jab his body. You certainly must be able to fight him at a distance and close. Do you guys think going at him at the range is risky? But as a professional, you can fight a guy fighter and use the range to defeat him.”
Whether the Klitschko incident happened is Dillian Whyte‘s word against Deontay Wilder’s.
Read all articles and exclusive interviews by Phil Jay. Learn more about the author, experienced boxing writer, and World Boxing News Editor since 2010. Follow on Twitter @PhilJWBN.
