Boxing’s big comeback: Former heavyweight champion returns to regain his belts

Five years after he lost his World Boxing Council (WBA) heavyweight crown, Deontay Wilder is back to compete for titles.

Despite only taking up the sport at the age of 20 Wilder has become one of the most successful heavyweight fighters of all time with a knockout-to-win percentage of 97.67%, the highest in heavyweight history.

He held the WBA crown from 2015 to 2020 when he lost to Tyson Fury in a high-profile title fight. Wilder went on to face Fury in a rematch in 2022 but he again lost. Since then Wilder has not fought for another title belt and has not had a fight of any description for the past year. Nevertheless, in an interview with 78SportsTV earlier this week Wilder insisted that he is preparing for a glorious comeback.

“My grandma told me years ago I was anointed by God and she didn’t lie,” the 39-ear-old explained.

“Here I am, the mission is the same, I gotta get these titles man, I gotta do what I gotta do, to feel that greatness, to show the world how great I am, like they know I am. It continues, and I’m looking forward to it. It feels good to be a veteran.”

At 39 it does feel like Deontay Wilder’s best days are behind him and his recent run of fights does not suggest that he’s trending upward. He turns 40 later this year and it would be one of boxing’s greatest stories if he can return to No. 1 spot. However he’d still be some way short of the oldest heavyweight champion.

In 1994 George Foreman reclaimed the world heavyweight title with a stunning victory over Michael Moorer. Foreman was 45 at the time and was facing a fighter on a run of 35 consecutive wins. Nevertheless, Foreman dug deep in the tenth round and caught Moorer with a thunderous right that ended the fight and made George Foreman the oldest heavyweight world champion of all time.

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