Deontay Wilder is finally set to return to the boxing ring after the best part of a year away.
Wilder is a former WBC heavyweight champion and feared knockout artist, stopped every man he faced – one at the second time of asking – up until the start of his trilogy with Tyson Fury, which began in December 2018. He drew that fight but was then stopped in the next two matches and has rarely looked the same since.
He picked up a routine win over Robert Helenius when he began his comeback, but was then beaten on points by former WBO champion Joseph Parker in December 2023 and stopped inside five rounds by Zhilei Zhang back in June of last year.
He now resumes his career against San Antonio’s 37-year-old Tyrrell Herndon, who has 24 wins and five losses on his ledger, in Kansas on June 27.
Speaking to Pro Boxing Fans, promoter Eddie Hearn warned that a loss for Wider at this stage could be devastating for his career.
“I don’t know the guy he’s fighting, I think, he got stopped by Richard Torrez. But listen, Wilder probably needs a real easy comeback fight and if he can’t deal with this guy he’s got to pack it in.
“I think Deontay Wilder being in the heavyweight division is great for the sport. Hopefully, he looks good and I don’t rule out an ‘AJ’ fight.”
Anthony Joshua has been linked to a fight against Wilder for a number of years, but he is currently on the sidelines recovering from injury after being stopped inside five rounds back in September by IBF king Daniel Dubois.
Wilder is convinced the transatlantic heavyweight clash will happen in the next two years.
