Deontay Wilder will face Tyrrell Herndon later this month in a bid to return to winning ways after several losses.
Deontay Wilder has had a huge fall from grace as the one feared boogeyman of the division has won just one of his last five fights.
Wilder lost twice to Tyson Fury before getting a one-round KO win over Robert Helenius. He has since been beaten by Joseph Parker and flattened by Zhilei Zhang.
Hoping to get back on track, Wilder will face 24-5 Tyrrell Herndon, who has beat nobody of note, next.
Despite Wilder’s spiral from success, it is his opponent who has sought help with his frame of mind.
Tyrrell Herndon appoints ‘mental coach’ to eliminate self-doubt
In an interview with Da Hangout Spot, Herndon speaks on his preparation for the Wilder fight, including the hiring of a ‘mental coach’ to work with him on his mindset ahead of the fight.
He said of the move: “I didn’t even know a mental coach was a thing until it was brought forth to me, but they come in and help reset your mind, they help give you confirmation, they groom your mind to not let moments be bigger than you. They just unlock so many levels inside the mind.”
He continued: “I feel like every human does it – self-doubt. I can be like ‘Oh I’mma beat this dude’ but then a small little voice in my mind be like ‘What if…?’ He helps let you know there isn’t. There’s only this way or that way.”
Herndon believes confidence is key going into the fight with Wilder, who was one-upped by Adam Kownacki, and maintains he is extremely confident.
Tyrrell Herndon has faced two credible opponents, and lost to both
In 2017, 6-1 Herndon faced Efe Ajagba in his pro debut. Ajagba, unintimidated by Herndon having seven pro fights already, demolished the American, knocking him out in just one round.
The only other credible opponent Herndon has faced didn’t let him off any lighter, as Herndon was knocked out in round two by Richard Torrez Jr., an Olympic silver medallist and rising heavyweight prospect.
The loss to Torrez was the only loss in the last five years for Herndon.