Deontay Wilder continues to be missing in action from boxing following a six-year fall from grace unseen in the sport’s heavyweight division.
In 2018, ‘The Bronze Bomber’ was 40-0 with 39 knockouts, having compiled one of the most impressive records ever – on paper. However, many could have seen what has unfolded over the past 69 months from a mile away as Wilder’s CV had considerable holes in it from the start.
Wilder had knocked out all 32 of his opponents within four rounds when he first got a shot at the top division title in 2015. The last of those, Jason Gavern, retired on his stool at the end of the session to keep the benchmark intact. That’s where things began to go wrong for Wilder despite his world title victory against Bermane Stiverne after the Gavern triumph.
The Alabama slammer reached his ultimate goal of becoming a world titleholder, but what many didn’t know was that not getting the knockout irked Wilder from the day the decision was read out. Wilder subsequently knocked out five straight tough and rugged opponents to ensure he could get his hands on Stiverne again.
“Stiverne asked for it, so he’s going to get it,” Wilder said at the time. “Whatever happens happens. Ask, and you shall receive. I’m relieved to be getting my mandatory out of the way. At least now, I won’t have to deal with that down the road.
“In the first fight, I broke my hand in the third round and still dominated. That was a lot of the reason why it went the distance. This time, it’s a different day, a different time, and a different fight. This time, it won’t end well for him.”
It didn’t, as Wilder blasted Stiverne out, scoring three knockdowns in a painful first-round victory. After halting Luis Ortiz four months later, Wilder was on top of the world at 40-0 but had many detractors unsure of his invincibility. As Artur Szpilka had done two years earlier, Ortiz proved that Wilder had little else in his locker than a one-punch obliteration. Wilder was down on the scorecards against both until pulling out that sledgehammer blow to take them out.
Then came Tyson Fury, and it all went south.
Wilder had wanted to face Anthony Joshua all year and held significant talks. But when the fight fell apart due to Joshua taking his mandatory, Wilder was left with only one option – Fury.
It’s well-documented that Fury had gone through significant turmoil and may not have been in the right place mentally. Therefore, Wilder jumped on the chance. In hindsight, waiting for Joshua may have been the better play, as Andy Ruiz Jr knocked out the Briton only six months later.
Fury earned a draw with Wilder in the first fight, which many believe should have been a win, but the man who kept his title hurt the most. Wilder was stunned that Fury got up from a final-round detonation that would have knocked out every other opponent he could have faced. Not Fury, though, who sent Wilder into despair over his record now reading 40-0-1.
Dominic Breazeale felt the brunt of that frustration in New York five months later when he was taken out in seconds. Wilder then repeated his win over Ortiz in even more devastating fashion. But three months later, disaster struck as Wilder was humiliated by Fury in the rematch.
Stopped in seven rounds and unable to get a foothold in the fight, Wilder spiraled into personal freefall after his first loss. The public meltdown lasted 19 months until he could finally get Fury back in the ring. Securing some redemption due to his performance and knocking Fury down two more times [four in total], Wilder could have walked away at that point and kept much of his fearsome reputation ready for a Hall of Fame ballot opportunity in a few years.
That didn’t happen. While awaiting a potential fourth fight with Fury or finally getting Joshua in the ring, Wilder took a fight he never wanted against Joseph Parker. By this time, he was clearly only fighting for the money.
Parker proved that as Wilder couldn’t get going, scoring a decision that could have been a stoppage. Then came Zhilei Zhang, another unfathomable opponent choice by Wilder, who was subsequently knocked into the middle of the next year.
Since then, nobody has heard from or seen Deontay Wilder in public as his secure family situation disintegrated. Coach Malik Scott, who many believe should be fired, insists Wilder will return for another round. The difference now compared to when he was 40-0, 39 KOs, is that boxers will be queuing up around the block to be the next in line to punch lumps out of the fallen champion.
Another chapter may be written in the story of Tuscaloosa’s finest. The trouble is it may not be a pretty one. 43-4-1 doesn’t need to become any worse.
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.
