Deontay Wilder: The Wild Card of Heavyweight Boxing

The heavyweight division has always been regarded as the glamour division, the one that creates the biggest buzz and manages to elevate its stars to global celebrities. America has always been at the forefront of the division with the likes of Joe Louis, George Foreman, Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson all inductees in the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Yet, in recent years there has been very little success from the American heavyweights and interest in the division has certainly waned. 

Deontay Wilder is confident that he is the man that can once again capture the imagination of not just the American public, but fight fans from all over the world. With a perfect record of 20 professional wins, all of which have been stoppage victories inside four rounds, and an amateur record that saw him win America's only boxing medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the 6ft 7" heavyweight has an inspirational tale that will resonate with fans and fighters alike. 

Despite an intimidating physique and what he describes as the "skills and mechanics to succeed", Wilder admits these were mostly put to good use on the streets of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. That was before the birth of his first daughter in 2005. Naieya was diagnosed with spina bifida and Wilder was forced to give up his dream of becoming an NBA or NFL star and instead took up a job as a delivery driver. 

"My daughter is absolutely my inspiration and I feel that if it wasn't for her then I would definitely not be involved in boxing," admits Wilder, who has a tattoo of his daughters name adorning his chest.  "She gives me something to fight for and a reason to succeed. I owe it all to her."

The 26-year-old only stepped into a boxing gym for the very first time in 2005 and since this moment his rise has been meteoric. Wilder's entire amateur career consisted of just 35 bouts, in which time he shocked American experts by winning the Olympic Trials and eventually returned from Beijing with a bronze medal in hand. "It was a great experience and every time I went to the boxing venue I would get mobbed by fans. Unfortunately it was because everyone thought I was LeBron James."

Wilder returned a much more recognisable figure and after making the decision to turn professional was inundated with offers to move away from Tuscaloosa. However, he chose to stay and is now desperate to put the southern state back on the map and replicate the success of two his fellow Alabama residents. 

"I had a lot of people try to draw me out of here at the start of my career but Joe Louis was from Alabama and so was Evander Holyfield. Not many people know that as they started their careers elsewhere but I want to stay here and I want to turn the town into a boxing hotbed."

Wilder's local celebrity status means he is often stopped in the street, but he is not one to shy away from the publicity, neither has he become too engrossed in his status as one of America's top heavyweight prospects. He trains in the same Skyy Gym that he first entered as a complete novice, and can be found most Sundays in the local church. Much like super-middleweight king Andre Ward, Wilder is a deeply religious man who believes his destiny has already been laid out in front of him. He plans to first conquer the American heavyweights, before facing the best Europe has to offer. 

"Even at the start of my career we had a plan but I have definitely pressed past that original plan," states Wilder. "This year is going to be big for me, we want everybody and anybody, the best of the best. There are a lot of guys that don't want to risk stepping in the ring with me. It used to be if you thought you were the best then you had to fight to prove it, now it is all about money.

"I feel like if you want to be labelled as the best in the world, then you should fight in peoples’ back yards. I am willing to fight anywhere, if it has to be in Europe or in the UK then that would be fine. I have seen Tyson Fury and Dereck Chisora and I wouldn't mind fighting any of them. In fact Fury would be easy for me."

This is clearly a man not short of confidence and self-belief. Something that every fighter needs in abundance. With Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko sharing the major heavyweight titles, Europe has become the hub of the division and Wilder will more than likely have to travel to Germany in order to dethrone the dominant champions. 

Wilder may have an impressive record, which features 12 first round KO's, but much like British hope David Price he is yet to be handed a real test. In fact he admits he gained much of his confidence inside the ring after being invited to the David Haye training camp ahead of his clash with Wladimir. "I sparred with David and it was definitely a boost for me. He was a pretty fast guy and it was a confidence builder that showed I could mix it with the best."

The father of two would have been watching closely when Haye came to blows with Chisora just hours after the man from Finchley had taken Vitali twelve rounds and he has high hopes that by the end of this year it will be his opportunity to face one of the giant Ukrainians. "It's just a mater of time for me. I feel as though most fighters are scared of them [the Klitschko's] and they doubt themselves before they step in the ring. A lot of them talk a big game but inside I think they are worried. I am ready to prove myself to the world so however, wherever and whenever, I am ready."

With Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions steering his future and a steely will pushing him to succeed, there seems little reason why Wilder cannot be the spark to reignite American interest in the heavyweight division.