Deontay Wilder

Deontay Wilder
Born	Deontay Leshun Wilder (1985-10-22) October 22, 1985 Tuscaloosa, Alabama, U.S.
Nationality	American
Other names	The Bronze Bomber
Statistics
Weight(s)	Heavyweight
Height	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Reach	84 in (213 cm)
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	32
Wins	32
Wins by KO	32
Losses	0
Draws	0
No contests	0
Medal record Men’s Boxing Representing United States Olympic Games 2008 Beijing Heavyweight

Deontay Leshun Wilder (born October 22, 1985) is an American heavyweight boxer. He is currently undefeated as a professional, and holds the WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight title. Wilder is considered to be one of the hardest punchers in the heavyweight division today, and to date he has knocked out or stopped every opponent inside four rounds. Wilder is ranked within the top ten heavyweights by all major sanctioning bodies, and holds notable wins over Audley Harrison, Siarhei Liakhovich and Malik Scott.

Wilder is trained by former welterweight world champion and olympic gold medalist Mark Breland.

Career

Wilder started boxing in October 2005 and in 2007 upset the favorites to win both the National Golden Gloves and the US championships at 201 lb (91 kg).

He graduated from Tuscaloosa Central High School in 2004 and dreamed of playing American football (wide receiver) or basketball (forward) for his hometown Alabama Crimson Tide, but the birth of his daughter Naieya (b. 2005), who suffers from a spinal condition, and grade issues forced him to attend nearby Shelton State Community College and to focus on a boxing career.

At the Golden Gloves he defeated highly touted cadet world champion Isiah Thomas - a southpaw from Detroit - and David Thompson, of Brooklyn, N.Y in the finals. At the U.S. championship he defeated Quantis Graves and won the final 31-15 over southpaw James Zimmerman of San Jose, Calif.

At the Olympic trials he beat Graves twice more and won the Olympic trials in only 21 bouts.

Early in 2008 he scored a career-best win by edging out World Gold medalist and future Olympic champion Rakhim Chakhiyev in Russia in a Duals.

He qualified for the Olympics by beating Deivis Julio 6:5 Jorge Quinones from Ecuador on double countback and Brazilian Rafael Lima 6:5 at the qualifier.

Olympic results

Boxing at the 2008 Summer Olympics

• Defeated Abdelaziz Toulbini (Algeria) 10:4
• Defeated Mohamed Arjaoui (Morocco) 10+:10 (tiebreaker criteria)
• Lost to Clemente Russo 7:1

World amateur championships results

• Lost to Krzysztof Zimnoch (Poland) 20-23

Professional Career

Wilder made his professional debut on the undercard of Jeff Lacy vs. Jermain Taylor fight in November 15th 2008. He fought Ethan Cox and won by TKO in the second round. From November 2008 to May 2012, Wilder built up an impressive record of 22-0, with 22 KO's. Although all of these opponents were merely club fighters, he did make a statement regarding his fearsome punching power, and all opponents were finished inside four rounds.

On June 23rd, 2012, he stepped up a notch in class and fought former world heavyweight title contender Owen Beck. Beck retired from the fight after three rounds with the heavy handed prospect. Wilder claimed his first title in December 2012, by knocking out Kelvin Price in three rounds to win the WBC Continental Americas heavyweight title in Los Angeles, California.

On April 27th 2013, he fought former European heavyweight champion Audley Harrison in Sheffield, England on the undercard of Amir Khan vs Julio Diaz. Wilder overwhelmed Harrison with his power in the first round, and ended the fight at one minute and eighty-three seconds. Four months later in August 2013, Wilder fought former WBO heavyweight champion Siarhei Liakhovich in Indio, California. Liakhovich was expected to last until the middle rounds, due to his experience at top level. Wilder made easy work of his opponent, landing a mighty straight right that sent the former champion crashing to the canvas to be counted out at one minute and forty-three seconds of round one. After this fight, Wilder made a statement that he was a genuine threat to the heavyweight division at any level.

On October 26th, 2013, he fought tough veteran Nicolai Firtha on the undercard of the light heavyweight championship bout between Bernard Hopkins and Karo Murat at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Firtha displayed heart and courage against Wilder from the beginning of the fight. Wilder scored two knockdowns over Firtha in the opening round, however the veteran survived and fought on. The decisive moment came in the fourth round, when Wilder landed a powerful overhand right to the head of Firtha, sending him flat on his back. The referee decided he had seen enough punishment, and awarded Wilder the knockout victory, and another win to his unbeaten streak.

On March 15, 2014, Wilder fought world ranked Malik Scott in Puerto Rico. After few exchanges within two minutes of the first round, Wilder opened up with a two-punch combo that sent Scott crashing into the ropes. The finishing blow of the combo was a straight right that breached Scott's high guard clipping him on the temple on impact. He was counted out at one minture and thirty-six seconds of round one. After this quick win over Scott, Wilder began to be recognized by the major sanctioning bodies as a challenger for a world heavyweight title. To prevent inactivity waiting for his shot at the WBC heavyweight title held by Bermane Stiverne, Wilder fought tough journeyman Jason Gavern on the undercard of the IBF welterweight showdown between Kell Brook and Shawn Porter. Wilder scored two knockdowns over Gavern in the third and fourth rounds. Gavern retired at the end of the fourth round.

Personal life

Deontay has a six-year-old daughter named Naieya and a newborn daughter named Ava and a son named Dereon Wilder. He has been married since 2009 to Jessica Scales- Wilder. On May 4, 2013 Wilder was arrested in Las Vegas for domestic battery by strangulation, which is a Class B or Class C felony. Wilder's attorney said, "Deontay instinctively acted under the false impression that someone was stealing from him. That wasn't the case. He regrets his actions. He is extremely regretful because this is not consistent with his reputation. He and the victim have spoken about this and the victim has accepted his apology. We hope this matter will be brought to a resolution soon".

Championships

• WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight title

External links

• Official Deontay Wilder Website
• Interview with Deontay (March 2013)
• Article
• Profile
• NPR story about Wilder
• Olympic qualifier
• Deontay Wilder Amateur Boxing Record
• Boxing record for Deontay Wilder from BoxRec (registration required)
• Article

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