DEONTAY WILDER will be hoping to add another KO to his formidable boxing record this weekend in Brooklyn, New York.
The Bronze Bomber will have a rematch against Bermane Stiverne for his WBC title, the only boxer who has took him to a points decision back in January 2015.
And although Wilder won that contest, contributing to his 38 fight-perfect record with 37 KOs, Stiverne soaked up some of Wilder’s biggest shots and fought until the end.
But there is little talk about Wilder vs Stiverne; it’s all been about a potential match-up between Wilder and our very own Anthony Joshua.
Both would put undefeated records on the line, and both have shown devastating power that has taken them to the very top.
So what threat could Wilder pose to AJ? Is his record a fair reflections of his talents? SunSport takes a look at the man behind the Bronze Bomber moniker.
DEONTAY WILDER'S FIGHT RECORD
Age – 32
Nickname – The Bronze Bomber
Born – Alabama, US
Fights – 38
Won – 38
KOs – 37
Stance – Orthodox
Height – 6ft 7ins
Reach – 83ins
Just how good is Deontay Wilder?
Here in the UK, it’s fair to say Wilder’s fight-record is scoffed at.
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Sure, he has knocked out 37 of his 38 opponents and has a perfect record, but the class of the opponent is always questioned.
Most are names that don’t exactly roll off the tongue. The biggest name on his “defeated” list is Bermane Stiverne.
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But you can only defeat what is put in front of you, and the truth is the US heavyweight scene is probably the poorest it has ever been.
What is Deontay Wilder like outside the ring?
Wilder has made the headlines for the wrong reasons outside the ring.
In June this year he was arrested after being found in possession of marijuana.
Wilder was arrested for possession of the drug, and was able to “post bond for £785 ($1,000)”.
He appears brash and aggressive outside the ring, but that probably stems from the multiple problems he has had finding credible opponents to fight.
His most personal life is largely kept out of the spotlight. But Wilder is married to Jessica Scales since 2009 and the couple have four children.
And he calls his eldest daughter Naieya, 12, proves to be his inspiration. She was born with Spina Bifida, and he has spoken about how him and his wife were given the choice to terminate the pregnancy.
What are Deontay Wilder’s strengths?
Unsurprisingly, Wilder’s main strength is the power he gets behind his punches.
This is demonstrated by him knocking out 37 of his 38 opponents so far.
But despite people questioning his skills, he also has that fire in his belly that keeps a steely focus on trying to being the best there is.
He got into boxing to support his family, soon realising that putting in the hard work in the gym would only benefit his pay packet in the end.
And while boxers, like most sportsmen, chase as much dollar as possible, Wilder has shown a determination to go down in the history books.
What are Deontay Wilder’s weaknesses?
It’s difficult to assess what Wilder’s weaknesses for the simple reason that he hasn’t being tested.
He does however lose his focus at times, and in seeking a KO looks very much an amateur.
Against a fellow big hitter, he would be wide open to a knockdown – could that be Joshua’s way in?
Another weakness could be Wilder under-estimating his future opponents – based purely on what he has faced so far.
Even the likes of UK fighters Dillian Whyte and Dereck Chisora would be a step above what he has faced. AJ would bring a whole host of trouble to Wilder’s door.
Can Deontay Wilder beat Anthony Joshua?
AJ will learn little from Wilder’s expected victory this weekend. But there’s no doubting if the two fight in early 2018, as has been talked about, it’s a dangerous fight for Joshua.
And the simple reason is because no-one truly knows what Wilder will bring to the table in a world class match-up.
While Joshua has also fought less-than adequate boxers on his way to the IBF, WBA and IBO titles, he has also been in with the likes of Dillian Whyte and Wladimir Klitschko – and stopped both of them.
A potential fight between the two would prove two things.
It would prove just how good the heavyweight division is over in the US, and it would also prove that Joshua is indeed the best heavyweight in the world.
Maybe now Joshua has some questions to answer after his less-than convincing victory against Carlos Takam last weekend.
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