Fansided

FanSided’s 2018 boxing awards and review of boxing’s best moments

By Jeremy Herriges

Tony Bellew (left) in action against Oleksandr Usyk during their WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO & Ring Magazine Cruiserweight World Championship bout at Manchester Arena. (Photo by Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images)
Tony Bellew (left) in action against Oleksandr Usyk during their WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO & Ring Magazine Cruiserweight World Championship bout at Manchester Arena. (Photo by Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images) /
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Jay Deas and Deontay Wilder
BIRMINGHAM, AL – AUGUST 20: WBC World Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder and his trainer Jay Deas meet with Birmingham Mayor William Bell during the Johann Duhaupas fight announcement press conference at the Legacy Arena at the BJCC on August 20, 2015, in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by David A. Smith/Getty Images) /

2018 Boxing Trainer of the Year: Jay Deas

People typically judge trainers by the wins and losses of their fighters and the number of championship boxers they produce in their stable. Guys like Freddie Roach, Abel Sanchez, and Robert Garcia have produced countless notable champions. Jay Deas has built one, and that’s a primary reason why we’ve named him as our 2018 Boxing Trainer of the Year.

Deas trains one boxer only, WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (40-0-1, 39 KOs). Wilder is one of the best heavyweights in the world, but he wouldn’t be where he is without Deas in his life. Wilder walked through the door of the Skyy Boxing Gym in Northport, AL when he was 20 years old. He never boxed before, but Deas was smart enough to recognize talent when he saw it.

In two years, Deas guided Wilder to becoming a National Golden Gloves champion, U.S. amateur champion, and an Olympic bronze medal. Not many trainers have helped boxers produce those types of results in such a short time frame.

What sets Deas apart from other trainers is his humility. He sensed that he could use added expertise in leading Wilder through the professional levels and brought in former middleweight champion Mark Breland to be Wilder’s co-trainer.

Deas could train multiple world-class boxers, but he elected to dedicate all of his time to Wilder. He’s also Wilder’s co-manager, but more importantly, he’s an honest mentor that’s helped Wilder through all facets of his life.

Although he doesn’t train other boxers, he’s helped manage and advise other fighters like Robert Alfonso and Deon Nicholson. He has taught assistant trainers like Cuz Hill who’s poised to be a successful lead trainer in the future. Deas’ impact stretches so much further than just being Wilder’s trainer which is why he’s our 2018 Boxing Trainer of the Year.

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