On Saturday, February 22, in Las Vegas (Sunday 5am Nigerian time) WBC heavyweight champions Deontay Leshun Wilder (42-0-1, 41 KOs) will put his belt on the line in the rematch against Tyson Fury (20-0-1, 20 KOs); for only his third career rematch.
The MGM Arena will host the unfinished business, after a controversial split decision draw by the judges in 2018.
Wilder, 34, is on the books of several punters to record a knockout victory against the Undefeated and former Lineal champion Fury.
The weigh-in on Friday was without the customary face-off, as the Nevada State Athletic Commission banned it following the small scuffle that broke out during Wednesday’s press conference.
Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury have been banned from facing off at tomorrow’s weigh-ins 😳 #WilderFury2 pic.twitter.com/Uihs6aOxEs
— Boxing on BT Sport 🥊 (@BTSportBoxing) February 20, 2020
Knowing this much about the fight, how about the Champions himself?
We’ve compiled seven interesting facts about Deontay Wilder that you may or may not have know. Enjoy.
- Deontay Wilder was interested in playing football as a wide Receiver or Basketball until the birth of his first Daughter, he was 19.
- At some point in his life realizing his first daughter had a congenital problem, spina bifida, he was depressed and contemplated suicide. He would later work two jobs to save enough to have his daughter under surgery.
- After dropping out of school Wilder started taking online classes and working toward a degree in business.
- Considered one of the biggest puncher in Boxing’s history according to Tyson Fury’s former former trainer, Ben Davison, told Yahoo Sports “He’s the biggest puncher not just in heavyweight history, but in boxing history,” Davison told Yahoo Sports in November.
- In 2007 while aspiring to make it to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Wilder Predicted he would someday become the heavyweight champion of the World.
- He lost in the semi-final of the heavyweight division at the Summer games against Italy’s Clemente Russo and ended up with a Bronze, which led to his nickname of “The Bronze Bomber.”
- In 2010 He was ranked 56th highest-paid Athlete in the World after he pocketed more than $10 million for the first installment of the Fury fight, as well as for his 2019 showdown with Dominic Breazeale.
- According to Forbes Magazine, Wilder’s Salary or Winnings since he turned pro amounts to $30 million.
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