A former long-ruling heavyweight champion has declared he is back to regain his belts.
Coming back from a loss is never easy, and that is even truer when a long-reigning champion is dethroned. Rematches have become something of a crutch for modern stars which means that if the worst does happen, they can get an immediate shot at redemption.
However, that was not an option for Deontay Wilder in his most recent fights. The former WBC heavyweight king first lost his belt to Tyson Fury by seventh round stoppage, following a controversial draw in their first contest.
Wilder did get a rematch after the loss in a bid to regain his heavyweight strap, but was again stopped by ‘The Gypsy King’, this time in the 11th round.
He then had just one fight in the next year, a simple KO win over Robert Helenius, but when he stepped back in with a top-level opponent he was beaten again.
That was Joseph Parker back in December 2023, and the American followed that up with another loss, and another knockout, at the fists of Chinese heavyweight Zhilei Zhang in June last year.
Speaking to 78SPORTSTV, Wilder suggested he still has plenty left to give to the division despite not fighting for the best part of a year.
“My grandma told me years ago I was anointed by God and she didn’t lie. 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. I feels good to be a veteran.”
