Deontay Wilder will return against Tyrrell Herndon on Friday 27th June in a fight that will be make-or-break for his career.
Deontay Wilder has had a fall from grace lately, winning just one of his last five fights. Though many attribute his losses to Wilder’s opponent-turned-trainer Malik Scott, who Wilder has parted with, there are still many questions to be asked regarding what ‘The Bronze Bomber’ has left.
Once the most feared heavyweight in the division, Wilder boasted a 32-fight KO streak until Bermaine Stiverne broke it, going the distance. Wilder KO’d Stiverne in their rematch, but another fighter almost took Wilder to the scorecards again two fights later.
Deontay Wilder finished Johann Duhaupas with just one round to go
In 2015, just two fights after his unanimous decision win over Stiverne, Wilder was matched up against 32-3 Johann Duhaupas in defense of his world title.
Duhaupas had only lost to Francesco Pianeta in 2008 and Erkan Teper in 2015.
Duhaupas was initially not ranked in the WBC’s top 40, but entered at number 15 ahead of his fight with Wilder, after beating Mahmoud Charr by majority decision.
Wilder, who almost brawled with Tony Bellew once, picked up almost every round as the fight went on, but was tested by Duhaupas, who refused to go down against ‘The Bronze Bomber’. That is until the 11th round.
With Wilder having never gone this far in a fight, aside from his points win over Stiverne, he seemingly knew that he had to get the finish now or never, scoring a TKO in that penultimate round.
Deontay Wilder’s brother was defeated by three journeyman
Deontay isn’t the only boxer in his family, as Marsellos Wilder also took up the gloves in 2018, just seven months before his brother’s first fight with Tyson Fury.
Marsellos managed just three wins before facing his first pitfall, losing to 6-12 William Deets via TKO.
Four fights later, he lost again by TKO, this time to 2-1-2 Dustin Long.
After over two years out of the ring, Marsellos gave boxing one more go, but lost by split decision to 6-13 Eric Abraham in his comeback fight. Wilder’s third journeyman loss was his final one. He hasn’t fought since.