Deontay Wilder Has No Lack for Options Should he Return to the Ring
When the world last heard anything from destructive puncher Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (42-2-1, 41 KO’s), he was not exactly committed to the sport. He was coming off back-to-back brutal and embarrassing losses to Tyson Fury and did not know if he would persist with his boxing career. This was lightyears years away from the days when Wilder regularly said he would fight until he was about 40 years old.
Now, Wilder stated that he was going to make his decision by taking the hallucinogen dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and discovering his answer on the subsequent spiritual quest. Since that time, the Bronze Bomber has not announced the conclusion that he came to on that trip. When 3Kings Boxing reached out to his Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) backers, neither they nor Wilder’s manager, Shelley Finkel, provided any additional information. With that being the case, the boxing fans remain stranded in this uninformed limbo.
SHOWS ON THE ROAD
Supposing that Wilder does return to the ring, by all accounts it appears that Fury has his number. This does not mean that the Bomber could not still thrive within the division. One easily made domestic fight comes against PBC stablemate Andy “The Destroyer” Ruiz (34-2, 22 KO’s). Both have shown interest in a showdown in the past and both need a dance partner. A win for either would be significant at this deflated point in their careers.
The Bomber might also consider pursuing a prizefight with highly ranked UK contender Joe “Juggernaut” Joyce (13-0, 12 KO’s). To date, of his 45 prizefights, only five have been staged outside of the US, with those fights coming against Daniel Cota Peinado (Mexico), Jesse Oltmanns (Mexico), Matthew Greer (Mexico), Audley Harrison (UK) and Malik Scott (Puerto Rico). It’s been nearly ten years since he’s fought abroad. Perhaps now is the time to dust off his passport.
KING AGAIN?
A win over Joyce would likely catapult Wilder in all four of the major sanctioning bodies’ rankings. It would also put him in prime position to face the winner of Anthony Joshua (24-2, 22 KO’s) versus WBA Super, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk (19-0, 13 KO’s). So whether Wilder can beat Fury or not, he could very well still become the most belt carrying champion in the division.
If that was the case, he most certainly could make a compelling case to stage a fourth bout with the Gypsy King if his stubborn will to win propelled him into such an action. Despite his bloody and lopsided losses to Fury, the Bronze Bomber still has a path available to him that leads to a very lush future in the sport. The only thing now left to determine is whether Wilder will stay or go.
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By: Bakari Simpson
