Deontay Wilder: Former heavyweight champion poised to confirm return to ring soon
Former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder set to announce return; Wilder last fought in loss to Zhilei Zhang in June 2024 and could now announce his next fight in the coming weeks; American lost his heavyweight title to Tyson Fury in 2020
Saturday 11 January 2025 10:23, UK
Deontay Wilder is set to confirm his return to the ring.
The former WBC heavyweight champion has not fought since a stoppage loss to Zhilei Zhang last June.
But Wilder's co-manager Shelly Finkel has confirmed that the 39-year-old could announce his next fight in the coming weeks.
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Wilder had teased a comeback in November, posting a message on Instagram that the 'best has yes to come,' along with a video montage of media members calling for his retirement.
'The Bronze Bomber' had a lengthy reign as WBC champion before losing his title in a dramatic rematch loss to Tyson Fury in 2020.
The big-hitting American lost his trilogy fight with Fury and then rebounded with a first-round knockout win over Robert Helenius.
A subsequent defeat to Joseph Parker in 2023, along with the Zhang loss had led to questions about Wilder's future.
But Wilder is now set to resume his career in a division that is ruled by Oleksandr Usyk after last month's rematch win over Tyson Fury.
Usyk, who holds the WBC, WBA and WBO belts, has suggested he could return to cruiserweight where he was an undisputed champion, while Britain's Daniel Dubois is the IBF champion after his knockout win over Anthony Joshua last year.
