Deontay Wilder was considered to be one of the fiercest forces in the heavyweight division, but a closer look at his record shows that some of his opponents are not as good as many may have thought.
Deontay Wilder is looking to get back on track with a win over Tyrrell Herndon after back-to-back losses to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang.
Wilder, who had a 32-fight KO streak, was named the biggest puncher in the division by fans and fellow fighters, but his record shows that many of his opponents were either not ranked or not even in the top 100 heavyweights.
In 39 fights Deontay Wilder faced a top-20 heavyweight just once
According to Give Me Sport, a graphic created and shared by Touch Gloves Boxing gives a breakdown of Wilder’s first 39 opponents, revealing much about the caliber of The Bronze Bomber’s opposition.
In his first 20 fights, Wilder fought four ranked opponents, whose rankings were as follows: 393rd, 399th, 304th, 489th.
In fact, Wilder didn’t face anyone in the top 200 heavyweights until his 28th fight when he defeated Audley Harrison, who was ranked 136th at the time.
In his 33rd fight he faced Bermane Stiverne, who had become a world champion with a win over Chris Arreola. Wilder KO’d Stiverne in their rematch after he had become the only man to go the distance with him.
As a result of the fairly weak state of the division at the time, Stiverne was ranked fourth in the world, and was Wilder’s only opponent in the top 20 before his fights with Luis Ortiz, who Wilder went to war with, Tyson Fury, who he lost to, and Zhang and Parker.
Deontay Wilder eyes return against the man who lost to Martin Bakole’s enemy
Wilder’s return will see him come up against 24-5 Tyrrell Herndon, who has lost four times by knockout, including once in 2017 when he was knocked out inside one round by Efe Ajagba.
Ajagba most recently fought to a draw with Martin Bakole in a fight many believe the Nigerian ought to have won.
Ajagba faced Herndon when in his very first pro fight, and is now 20-1-1.