Deontay Wilder won’t quit boxing and says he will be champion again
‘The Bronze Bomber’ ruled out the possibility of retiring after surprisingly losing to Joseph Parker in Saudi Arabia.
He suffered a big blow, but he’s ready to counterpunch. Deontay Wilder won’t be retiring from boxing despite being defeated, against all odds, by Joseph Parker in the Day of Reckoning co-main event.
The Bronze Bomber was one of the biggest favorites of the card to get his hand raised, but things didn’t go as planned by the American former world champion.
He looked old and rusty, with no aggressivity against Parker, who took advantage of Wilder’s lack of offense to get a wide unanimous decision victory.
The Tuscaloosa native hadn’t been in the ring since he fought Robert Helenius in October 2022, a fight that only lasted one round, as he defeated his opponent in the opening round.
Wilder, ready to come back and become a champion again
At 38, Wilder won’t get any younger and it looks like the clock is ticking fast for the knockout artist. After the fight against the former heavyweight champion, the 2008 Olympic Games bronze medallist hinted at retirement due to his disappointing performance, but now he seems to be motivated and confident enough to return to the ring and get back to winning ways.
“I’ve got to find my killer instinct back. I’m too at peace; I’m too happy. When I had that dog in me, nobody had a chance. I will be a two-time heavyweight world champion”, he said to 78SPORTSTV.
Wilder and Anthony Joshua had signed a two-fight deal, with the first one of them expected to take place in early 2024. However, Wilder’s defeat seems to have ruined those plans and AJ doesn’t seem that interested in fighting the American.
“I just know he doesn’t want to fight the best of the best. That ain’t hating. That ain’t dislike. He didn’t want to break bread with me, and we could have made great money together and still can”, Wilder stated about Joshua.
Despite the strange situation in the heavyweight division after his loss in Riyadh, Wilder hopes the fight with Joshua will take place.
“Like I said, March 9th, the fight can still be on. It can still go on. We can still fight because they already said win, lose, or draw. But they’re already talking about the belt name [IBF], and this is the perfect way to get out”, he explained.
Joshua comfortably defeated Otto Wallin last Saturday via corner retirement after the fifth round and the undefeated Filip Hrgovic looks like his most probable opponent.