Deontay Wilder
 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (October 2015) |
Deontay Wilder | |||||||||||||||
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 Wilder in 2015 | |||||||||||||||
| Born | Deontay Leshun Wilder 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 | 83 in (211 cm) | ||||||||||||||
| Stance | Orthodox | ||||||||||||||
| Boxing record | |||||||||||||||
| Total fights | 36 | ||||||||||||||
| Wins | 36 | ||||||||||||||
| Wins by KO | 35 | ||||||||||||||
| Losses | 0 | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Deontay Leshun Wilder (born October 22, 1985) is an American professional boxer and the WBC heavyweight champion. As an amateur he won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics, which led to his nickname of "The Bronze Bomber". Wilder coined the name after Joe Louis, who was also from Alabama, and who was known by the nickname "The Brown Bomber". Wilder has a very erratic and explosive style, generating extreme punching power in his right hand which has accounted for most of his knockouts—18 of them within the first round.
Amateur career
Wilder started boxing in October 2005. By 2007 he upset the favorites to win both the National Golden Gloves and the US championships at 201 lb (91 kg).
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. 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.
Professional career
Deontay Wilder turned professional on November 15th 2008. From his debut to August 2014, he scored an impressive 32-fight knockout win streak. Although most opponents were journeymen or club fighters, he did score notable wins over former WBA heavyweight title challengers Owen Beck and Audley Harrison, and the former WBO world heavyweight champion Siarhei Liakhovich
In his 33rd professional contest, Wilder fought for the WBC world heavyweight championship, then held by hard-hitting Haitian-Canadian Bermane Stiverne. Wilder at this point had never gone beyond four rounds, but he proved during the contest that he had boxing ability and durable stamina. He won by unanimous decision after twelve rounds, becoming the first American heavyweight champion in nine years.
Since becoming the WBC heavyweight champion in January 2015, he has made three successful defences of his crown by scoring ninth round knockouts of Éric Molina (June 2015) and Artur Szpilka (January 2016), as well as an eleventh round stoppage of Johann Duhaupas in September 2015.
Personal life
Wilder has two daughters, Naieya and Ava, and two sons, Dereon and Deontay Jr. Wilder has been married since 2009 to Jessica Scales-Wilder.[1]
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 spina bifida and grade issues forced him to attend nearby Shelton State Community College and to focus on a boxing career.[2]
Controversies
On May 4, 2013, Wilder was arrested in Las Vegas for domestic battery by strangulation, which is a Class B or Class C felony.[3] 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".[4] According to Clark County, Nevada records, Wilder was cleared in the matter.
Championships
- WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Champion (2 defenses)
- WBC World Heavyweight Champion (3 defenses)
Olympic results
Boxing at the 2008 Summer Olympics[5]
- 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 boxing record
References
- ^ Lem Satterfield (23 January 2015). "Tuscaloosa to hold parade for Deontay Wilder". Ring TV.
- ^ "Baby daughter inspires Olympic boxer - TODAY in Beijing - TODAY.com". Today.msnbc.msn.com. Retrieved 2014-06-25.
- ^ Suttles, Aaron (2013-05-07). "Wilder arrested on felony suspicion". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved 2013-05-08.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Taylor, Stephanie (2013-05-08). "Attorney: Deontay Wilder thought he was being robbed". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved 2013-05-08.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Boxing Schedules & Results". Official Beijing 2008 Website. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
- ^ "Deontay Wilder - Boxer". Boxrec.com. 1985-10-22. Retrieved 2014-06-25.
External links
- National Golden Gloves champions
- 1985 births
- Winners of the United States Championship for amateur boxers
- Living people
- American boxers
- Heavyweight boxers
- Olympic boxers of the United States
- Boxers at the 2008 Summer Olympics
- People from Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Olympic bronze medalists for the United States
- Olympic medalists in boxing
- Medalists at the 2008 Summer Olympics
- World heavyweight boxing champions
- World Boxing Council champions