Deontay Wilder is set to make a ring return following back-to-back losses in Saudi Arabia.
The hard-hitting former heavyweight world champion was beaten on points by Joseph Parker and stopped inside five rounds by Zhilei Zhang. In the fights, Wilder did not look his old ferocious self, leading many to recommend retirement at 39-years-old.
Wilder has since confirmed that he will fight on, and his trainer Malik Scott told Jeff Bet that 2025 will be ‘a big year.’
“Yeah, I definitely would not be shocked if something happened. If he wants to do it, 2025 to me will be the perfect year for him to come back.
My instinct is saying fighting is a part of Deontay’s heart. It’s just who he is. He’s a fighter, even when he’s not fighting in a ring. He’s just a fighter, so I believe that he will come back in 2025. But we’ll see. Everything has to be right for him to come back again. So we’ll see. If you ask me my feeling, my feeling is that 2025 is coming up, and I believe it’s going to be a big year for him.”
Scott was then asked about the rumours of the return of Wladimir Klitschko, who was reportedly in early talks to face IBF Champion Daniel Dubois in an attempt to break George Foreman’s record as the oldest heavyweight titlist in history.
Scott has thrown his man’s name into the ring as well, saying it would be one of the biggest fights of all time.
“Wladimir Klitschko is a legend. There’s so much that comes with that brand of Wladimir Klitschko. So, that’s worth the while right there. I’m sure that would be a name to consider if that rumour he wants to return is true, that would be a name to put some attention on.
If something like that were to happen, Deontay Wilder and Wladimir, it’d be one of the biggest heavyweight fights of all time. But I would be very shocked if Wladimir came back. I look at Vitali, Wladimir, and Lennox as the type of fighters, to me, when they’re done, they’re done. So, if he comes back, he won’t be a new face in the division. His presence still will be felt.”
Klitschko has been retired since a stoppage loss to Anthony Joshua in 2017 but has long considered a return.
