Deontay Wilder is a professional boxer from the United States.
Early life
Deontay Leshun Wilder was born on October 22, 1985. Wilder comes from a family of preachers in Alabama, including his father and grandmother. He is the eldest of four siblings, with three older sisters and one younger brother. Wilder used to go to church every week when he was a kid. He has stated that “God is very important in my life,” referring to his Christian faith.
Wilder graduated from Tuscaloosa Central High School in 2004 with aspirations of playing football (wide receiver) or basketball (forward) for his hometown Alabama Crimson Tide, but the birth of his oldest daughter and poor grades forced him to attend nearby Shelton State Community College and concentrate on his boxing career.
Wilder later revealed that he was depressed at the time and had briefly considered suicide by gunshot.
Career Overview
Amateur Career
Wilder began boxing in October 2005, when he enrolled at Skyy Boxing Gym in Northport, Alabama, and began training with Jay Deas. Wilder was 20 years old at the time.
By 2007, he had defied the odds to win both the National Golden Gloves and the US championships at 201 pounds (91 kg).
He won a bronze medal in the heavyweight division as an amateur at the 2008 Olympics.
Wilder had a rough amateur record of 30–5.
Professional Career
Wilder made his professional debut on November 15, 2008, at the age of 23, at the Vanderbilt University Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tennessee.
He defeated Ethan Cox (2-2-1) by technical knockout (TKO) in the second round after knocking him down three times.
From 2015 to 2020, he held the WBC heavyweight title, which he successfully defended ten times. Wilder won the title, becoming the first American world heavyweight champion since 2004, the longest period in boxing history without an American heavyweight champion.
As of May 2021, BoxRec, the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, and The Ring magazine ranked him as the world’s third-best active heavyweight, and BoxRec ranked him as the ninth-best active boxer, pound for pound.
Record
Professional record summary
| 44 fights | 42 wins | 1 loss |
| By knockout | 41 | 1 |
| By decision | 1 | 0 |
| Draws | 1 |
| Amateur Boxing Record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Representing United States | ||
| Olympic Games | ||
| Bronze | 2008 Beijing | Heavyweight |
| U.S. National Championships | ||
| Gold | 2007 Colorado Springs | Heavyweight |
| Golden Gloves | ||
| Gold | 2007 Chattanooga | Heavyweight |
Notable Matches
Wilder vs. Bermane Stiverne
On January 17, 2015, Wilder faced Stiverne for the WBC heavyweight title at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. After twelve rounds, Wilder defeated Stiverne by unanimous decision to become the first American heavyweight world champion since Hasim Rahman.
It received scores of 118–109, 119–108, and 120–107 from the judges. Wilder dedicated his victory to his disabled daughter and to his boxing hero Muhammad Ali, who turned 73 on the same day.
Wilder vs. Eric Molina
Soon after, WBC #14 Eric Molina (23-2, 17 KOs) was announced as Wilder’s opponent. Molina aspired to become the first Mexican-American world heavyweight champion in history.
The event was declared sold out, with a total attendance of 9,347 people. Wilder dominated, knocking Molina out near the end of round four, twice in round five, and once more in round nine, knocking him out onto his back.
Wilder vs Tyson Fury
On July 31, 2018 Fury stated that the fight with Wilder was 99% set, with only the location and date remaining to be determined.
On September 22, both fighters confirmed that they had signed the contract and that the fight would take place on December 1, 2018. According to the California State Athletic Commission, Wilder would receive a guaranteed base purse of $4 million, while Fury would receive a guaranteed purse of $3 million.
Wilder and Fury fought to a twelve-round split decision draw in front of 17,698 fans at the Staples Center, ensuring Wilder retained his WBC title. According to CompuBox statistics, Wilder landed 71 of 430 punches thrown (17 percent), while Fury landed 84 of his 327 thrown punches (26 percent ).
On November 27, 2019, it was announced that Wilder would face Tyson Fury in a rematch of their 2018 draw on February 22, 2020. In the fifth round, Fury knocked Wilder out again, this time with a body shot. Wilder was eventually knocked out in the seventh round by a technical knockout.
Many criticised and labelled Wilder’s attempts to justify his loss as “excuses,” including Tyson Fury, former undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, and British heavyweight rivals Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte.
Personal life
Wilder is the father of eight children. Wilder’s first child, daughter with ex-girlfriend Helen Duncan, was born in 2005. Wilder also has two other daughters and one son from his marriage to Jessica Scales-Wilder, whom he divorced in 2009. Wilder is currently engaged to Telli Swift, with whom he has a child, and has appeared on the reality television show WAGS Atlanta.
| Full Name | Deontay Leshun Wilder |
| Common Name | Deontay Wilder |
| Nick Name | The Bronze Bomber |
| Birthdate | October 22, 1985 |
| Age | 35 years old |
| Zodiac Sign | Libra |
| Mother’s Name | Deborah Wilder |
| Father’s Name | Gary Wilder |
| Siblings | Three sisters, one brother |
| Birthplace | Tuscaloosa, Alabama, U.S. |
| Home Town | Tuscaloosa, Alabama, |
| Citizenship | America |
| Residence | Tuscaloosa, Alabama |
| School | Central High School |
| College | Shelton State Community College |
| Education | N/A |
| Height | 6’7″(2.01 m) |
| Weight | 96 kg |
| Martial Status | Engaged |
| Partner | Telli Swift |
| Ex-Wife | Jessica Scales-Wilder (divorced 2017) |
| Children | Naieya Wilder, Kaorii Lee Wilder, Dereon Wilder, Ava Wilder, Deontay Wilder Jr. |
| Profession | Professional Boxer |
| Net Worth | $30 million |
| Last-Update | July, 2021 |
Net worth
Deontay Wilder’s net worth is estimated to be around $40 million as of 2021.
He made around $4 million through his first Fury fight along with an additional PPV bonus.
Wilder has struck a deal with Raising Cane’s which is evident by his fight uniform. Additionally, he is also associated with Everlast Boxing, PureKana CBD, among many others.
His next move in the sport could boost his income in the upcoming years.
Controversies
On May 4, 2013, around 7:30 a.m., Las Vegas police were called to a reported battery at a hotel in the 3700 block of South Las Vegas Boulevard, where Wilder and another woman were arrested. He was arrested and held at the Clark County Detention Center on charges of domestic battery by strangulation before being released on a $15,000 bond.
“The woman had swollen brows, a possibly broken nose, a cut lip, and red marks on her neck,” police said. Her injuries were treated at the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada. Wilder’s lawyer, Paul Patterson, stated that Wilder “acted instinctively under the false impression that someone was stealing from him,” and that he “regrets his actions.”
Read more: Deontay Wilder record: Career, record and titles of former professional boxer