Deontay Wilder has vowed to bring back the thrill to the heavyweight division following a disappointing year for the sport's glamour division.
After protracted and public negotiations, a proposed undisputed match-up between unified world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury fell apart. Fury overall has failed to secure himself fights with the likes of Anthony Joshua, Andy Ruiz Jr and Zhilei Zhang despite him and his promotional handlers reaching out and attempting to agree on deals for the WBC world champion to return to the ring for the first time following his December 2022 stoppage victory over Derek Chisora.
It was not until this past Saturday (August 26) that any version of the heavyweight world title was back in circulation since Fury was last in action. Usyk would successfully defend his unified (WBA,WBO, IBF & IBO) world heavyweight titles against Daniel Dubois, securing a 9th-round knockout of the 25-year-old Briton.
Former unified world champion Anthony Joshua was forced to face late replacement opponent Robert Helenius on August 12 following Dillian Whyte failing a VADA-administered drug test, which removed much of the glitz and anticipation away from Joshua due to the expectation of an all-British heavyweight affair.
Wilder has not been in action following his October 2022 first-round victory over Robert Helenius. However, he is heavily speculated to face divisional rival Anthony Joshua in early 2024.
Out of the ‘top four’ (Fury, Usyk, Joshua & Wilder) heavyweight kingpins, Fury is the next in line to return to the ring on October 28 against Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia. A fight which, when announced, divided the industry due to Ngannou’s lack of professional boxing experience following a career in MMA predominantly within the UFC.
Wilder is not a fan of the upcoming fight between Fury-Ngannou, believing that the fight will be boring with lots of ‘acting’ taking place.
“I think it’s gonna be boring,” Wilder said of Fury-Ngannou in an interview with ESNews. “In my gut, I just feel like it’s gonna be boring. A lot of acting, lot of stuff going on. I don’t think it’s gonna be an exciting fight.
“Some of these fights, because I haven’t really been in it, the heavyweight division, man, it just went down tremendously, bro. The excitement about it is not the same anymore. The burn for it is just not the same.
“Like I said, hopefully it’s a great fight, you know, get it on, get it over with, man, you know, that’s just how I am. Get it on, get it over with.”
With the prospect of a proposed bout between Wilder and Joshua, with the possibility of a two-fight deal being agreed between the fighters with proposed promoters Skill Challenge Entertainment, the heavyweight division could reignite and find its spark against eluded Wilder. Deontay aims ultimately to return to his ‘throne’ and that ‘the king will be returning soon.’
“I’m bringing boxing back, don’t worry. I know the excitement and thrill have been fucking dead. There’s no thrill in the heavyweight division right now. Don’t worry. I’m right here, baby. And soon, the king will return. I will be sitting back on my throne with my crown over my head. Don’t worry. I know y’all have been bored. But it won’t be long.”
