Single punch could spark Wilder career renaissance

Deontay Wilder will enter the ring again tomorrow night in Wichita, in a fight that could very well be his last.

- STEVE BUNCE

The remarkable career of Wilder has been defined by a seemingly endless stream of effortless knockouts that he could deliver with either hand; there were also a series of shocking defeats. He has been must-watch television for a long, long time. Wilder has stopped or knocked out 42 of the 43 men he has beaten, and there is no accurate record of just how many times he has sent boxers tumbling to the canvas. It is probably well over 100 times; he dropped Tyson Fury four times, and he never beat him.

The fight tomorrow against Tyrrell Anthony Herndon, an old-fashioned journeyman, is expected to finish early. Herndon has been stopped quickly by prospects and dreamers – Wilder needs to do the same to him.

The fall from grace of Wilder has been spectacular. He won the world heavyweight title in 2015, knocked out nine men in loaded gloves and then lost to Fury in 2020. The rumours of loaded gloves and excuses for the shock stoppage started early, and they continue to this day. However, there was no shame in that defeat or the one a year later; also against Fury, which was one of the great heavyweight title fights. Wilder found himself a little isolated, a bad loser, inactive, and his relevancy waned.