Deontay Wilder was at one point one of the most feared punchers in the heavyweight division, and has come a long way considering he didn’t begin boxing until he was 21.
Deontay Wilder‘s career has fallen on hard times lately as ‘The Bronze Bomber’ has gone 1-4 in his last five fights, with back-to-back losses to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang most recently.
Wilder had a 32-fight KO streak at one time and was considered to be a fearsome world champion, having seemingly knocked out Tyson Fury in their first encounter. Despite his recent losses, Wilder’s career has seen great heights considering the Alabama fighter picked up the gloves very late.
Deontay Wilder became ‘The Bronze Bomber’ after third-place medal at the Beijing Olympics
Speaking on The Joe Rogan Podcast, Wilder spoke on beginning boxing later than most, and how he became successful despite his late-start:
“I made the Olympics team in a year and a half, I started boxing at 21.”
Wilder has been criticized as a professional for lacking skill and relying on power, with Wilder’s resume full of unranked opponents. Still, it’s clear that the Alabama fighter did have some boxing technique, as joining the Olympic team after less than two years boxing is quite unheard of.
Wilder attended the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he won a bronze medal, marking the beginning of his well-known alias, ‘The Bronze Bomber’.
Wilder reflects on his amateur career: “I remember being in a tournament and had this elder man, you know he’s seen these kids year after year after year, and I remember him saying ‘Hey son, who are you?’ and I said ‘I’m Deontay Wilder’.”
Deontay Wilder reveals why he started boxing in the first place
In the same interview, Wilder, who was once meant to face Derek Chisora, was asked by Rogan what made him take up boxing to begin with.
Wilder said: “I started because of my daughter, who was born with spina bifida, so I couldn’t play football or basketball anymore because you needed to go to school for that, I needed money right now.”
Wilder was 19 years old when he had his daughter, and did whatever it took to secure a future for her, including becoming the heavyweight world champion.