Deontay Wilder is set to return to the boxing ring and his coach Malik Scott has spoken out the high stakes at play.
For many years, Wilder ruled supreme as a fearsome knockout artist who stopped every man he faced in the squared circle. From becoming world champion after beating Bermane Stiverne, he knocked out the likes of Luis Ortiz, Artur Szpilka, Dominic Breazeale and Gerald Washington.
In 2018, he faced Tyson Fury for the first time and despite knocking his man down twice, fought only to a draw. Two further fights with Fury ended in knockout losses for Wilder, who then took time away and rebuilt with one knockout of Robert Helenius before going into the ring with Joseph Parker in December 2023.
‘The Bronze Bomber’ looked gun shy and was beaten soundly on points before then being stopped by Zhilei Zhang in June last year. Despite the back-to-back losses, he is keen to fight on at 39-years-old.
Speaking to YSM Media, Scott – who has trained his former opponent since the third Fury fight – was asked if Wilder’s career is on the line in his return bout.
“Yeah, I would say so. The second half of your career, coming off two losses of two different opponents I would say yes, definitely, everything counts now at this time.”
News broke this week via Manouk Akopyan that Wilder will return this April on a BLK Prime card. An opponent is expected to be announced this coming weekend, and will likely be a tune-up fight to help get the knockout artist firing once more.
