Deontay Wilder Has Suffered His Own Bout of Depression!
When thinking about the WBC world heavyweight champion Deontay “Bronze Bomber” Wilder (42-0-1, 41 KO’s) the first words that might spring to mind are loud, powerful and, of course, bomb squad! However whenever he is not in a fight, or training for one, Wilder insists that he is a very sensitive soul. And just like anyone else, he too has battled his tough times emotionally and financially.
DARK NIGHTS AND BRIGHT MORNINGS
Amidst the battery of interviews that he has taken to hype his upcoming rematch with Tyson “Gypsy King” Fury (29-0-1, 20 KO’s), Wilder took the occasion to converse with BT Sport. As could be expected, the Bronze Bomber would reaffirm his belief that he would knock the Gypsy King out. Like a politician hitting the street to hustle up some votes, these are tried and true talking points for Wilder.
However, the piece did take an atypical turn when Wilder discussed duels that he’s had to wage with his own past devils and demons. During the course of that fighting, the Alabaman heavy-hitter admits that at one point he was tempted to commit suicide.
“The lowest moment has been for me, of my life, it’s been years and years and years ago. I think when my daughter was first born, back in 2005, but then in 2006 it become very rocky for me to the point where I lost my family. To the point where I had a gun in my lap. Where I was ready to commit suicide myself.
“Those thoughts come to your head. I mean we all human, those thoughts come to anyone here that’s going through some type of depression, going through different things in their lives. But you don’t think about how much it will affect your loved ones or those problems that you going through are going to carry to your family.
“During those times, I go take a cold shower and once I get out and go to sleep and wake up, I’m a new man to approach life in a different mindset. In a different way and never give up. And here I am, strongly here to educate and motivate and show people, you know?
“We all go through things! We’re human!”
NEEDS OF THE MANY OUTWEIGH THOSE OF THE FEW
For some it may be hard to view the Bronze Bomber in such a fragile state given his bombastic personality. Not to mention his obvious confidence and self-belief. Yet, it was that very same confidence that helped him navigate his mind and spirit back to a healthy place.
Another huge motivating factor for the WBC champ was providing for his children and family. When he allowed himself to focus more on their needs than his own, taking the correct steps to obtain those dreams became remarkably easier. Now, Wilder is proud to say that he has changed the course of his family in a beneficially manner forever.
“I had the opportunity to break that chain for my family. An opportunity that my father didn’t have, nor his father had for him. But I had that opportunity, I grabbed it and I ran with it.
“I have broken the chain!
“But not only to settle for just breaking that chain. I’m going to go furthermore and create things for myself that way. My family, my children and even their children’s children can be able to live off the things that they dad set for them.
“You know, when I talk about generational wealth, I’m not just talking about it, I’m actually being about it.”
By: Bakari Simpson
