After a frustrating 2016, Deontay Wilder aims to unify the heavyweight division as anxious American fight fans wait to see whether he can deliver on his bold promise.
Deontay Wilder’s admirable positivity is what allows him to remain singularly focused on his goals for what should be a defining 2017 campaign, which he’ll kick off against Gerald Washington on February 25 in Birmingham, Alabama (Fox/Fox Deportes, 8:00 p.m. ET). It’s what keeps him grounded in the face of criticism about the quality of his opposition, injuries derailing his momentum and multiple prospective opponents testing positive for banned substances.
When Wilder (37-0, 36 KOs) defeated Bermane Stiverne to claim the WBC title in 2015, there was cautious hope that the 2008 Olympic bronze medalist was prepared to lead the United States out of a heavyweight Dark Age. Although Wilder had technically ended America’s championship drought in the division it has historically dominated, fight fans in the States had developed an inferiority complex after being force fed a litany of pretenders.
Wilder’s rise has coincided with a welcomed uptick at heavyweight, with IBF champion Anthony Joshua and WBO titlist Joseph Parker leading an influx of young talent. But as the division’s depth has improved, some have questioned whether Wilder, despite having made four defenses of his WBC title, can separate himself from a now suddenly crowded pack. Although this skepticism can be frustrating, Wilder understands it.
“It makes sense,” Wilder told FanSided. “If you have one guy that has all the belts, there ain’t no guessing who the heavyweight champion of the world is. It’s only one guy around the world. And boxing is a worldwide sport.”
Wilder also admits, though, that the tendency to mythologize the past, while somewhat inevitable, can be a dangerous line of thinking when assessing boxing’s current landscape. Wilder senses that American fans are hungry to trust the sport again and that clarity at heavyweight is the crucial factor in precipitating this shift, emphasizing that he’s the man for the job.
“The American fans are definitely ready to have that great American again,” Wilder said. “That’s for sure. Every time I fight, they’re coming more on board with support. I wish it was even stronger support in America, as far as boxing is concerned. But, you know, there are too many belts out there. A lot of people don’t know which belt is which, or what champion is what champion. That’s one of the things I want to solve. I want to unify the division.”
In 2016, Wilder was supposed to get his first stern challenge since beating Stiverne to win the title: a mandatory defense against 2004 Olympic gold medalist and former secondary world champion Alexander Povetkin. The Russian contender had reeled off a slew of knockout victories since getting outclassed by Wladimir Klitschko and was seen as an ideal litmus test for Wilder.
Povetkin, however, tested positive for meldonium, which Wilder and his team, in winning a recent legal battle, were able to prove happened prior to their bout. This would again occur when Povetkin was later found to have ostarine in his system ahead of a fight against Stiverne, which was cancelled on less than 24 hours notice. Somehow, Povetkin was still given permission to contest a sanctioned bout after Stiverne withdrew, and he proceeded to ice former Wilder foe Johann Duhaupas.
Instead of fighting Povetkin, Wilder had to settle for a game but badly outgunned Chris Arreola. Wilder dominated the bout, but then found himself sidelined with a torn right bicep and broken hand, which shelved him for the rest of the year. Then, just when Wilder appeared ready to reboot his career, opponent Andrzej Wawrzyk tested positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol.
“I thought 2016 would be something good for me, but of course due to injuries I wasn’t able to do what I wanted to do, and you got guys that weren’t able to perform because of using banned substances, and different little things that delayed our plans,” Wilder said. “But 2017 is going to be real strong.”
Despite this turmoil, Deontay Wilder didn’t languish. The affable Alabama native understands the symbolic significance of being a heavyweight titlist and aspiring lineal champion, asserting that he has to be a leader and role model. And so, Wilder went to work to help clean up his sport.
As WBC champion, Wilder has been a leading example and advocate for the sanctioning body’s Clean Boxing Program, which is carried out in conjunction with the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association. While the program obviously emphasizes random out of competition testing of participating athletes, it also disseminates educational resources concerning the myriad dangers of doping. As for Wilder, his status as a clean athlete means that no one can question his integrity — or his otherworldly punching power.
Since the start of the WBC’s Clean Boxing Program, Wilder has noticed genuine progress in his sport and is pleased with the results. Random testing is essential, and staying the course is crucial, as opposed to blindly searching for some mystery solution.
“It’s just a shame that these guys feel like they can get away with it,” Wilder said. “Some of them that are doing it, they have probably gotten away with it for so long that they feel like they’re untouchable. And there are still guys out there doing it to this day. But they’ll soon get caught.”
From an integrity standpoint, Deontay Wilder is indeed the heavyweight champion Americans have craved. But even this noble stance can only take him so far. As Wilder gets set to defend his title in Alabama for the fourth time (which will be his fifth overall defense), some fans still point to struggles against foes like Eric Molina, the aforementioned Duhaupas and Artur Szpilka as ominous signs, even if Wilder won each fight by knockout.
Gerald Washington (18-0-1, 12 KOs), who has gamely stepped up as a late replacement opponent for the February 25 bout, certainly looks the part of a contemporary heavyweight at 6’6″ and hovering around a robust 245 pounds. But the former USC linebacker has a thin resume and came to boxing late. Once again, Wilder finds himself in a position where only a dominant victory will suffice. And until that knockout comes, his performance will be scrutinized.
One thing is for sure, though: Deontay Wilder has unflappable self-belief and is confident and content with the trajectory of his title reign and his progress as a fighter. He simply describes himself as “happy”, even when things aren’t going his way. His serene contentment serves to deflect criticism, and he emphasizes patience — and, by extension, how one acts when forced to idle — as a crucial virtue. Unlike most boxers, Wilder can refreshingly concede that he isn’t a perfect fighter because he has a clear sense of self.
“It’s one thing to see me on the outside, but it’s a whole other world when you get in that jungle with me on the inside,” Wilder said. “That’s what I think these fighters don’t understand. They may see loopholes in my game, but everybody has a hole in their game. They realize once they get inside the ring with me that their mind has been playing games with them. Their eyes have deceived them. And once you get in the ring with me, it’s too late.”
What it’s not too late for, however, is for American boxing fans to fully embrace Deontay Wilder. But don’t assume that he expects this to blindly occur without careful consideration. Wilder is intent on earning respect the old fashioned way, and now he’s finally in position to do so.
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Wilder spoke a lot about being the “right” man for the job — that is, the job of being lineal champion. Given the heavyweight division’s current landscape and his positioning in it, Wilder can confidently assert that he hasn’t wasted any time or missed some obvious opportunity — external forces and derailments aside. In fact, despite the tension of 2016, one could argue that Wilder is right where he wants — and needs — to be.
“Everything that’s happened in my career, even in the amateurs, has always been the right timing,” Wilder said when asked about sensing whether he’s on the precipice of something historic. “Boxing has been missing me, and everybody’s happy that I’m back.”