Boxing Wire

Tag: Deontay Wilder

  • Deontay Wilder Could Land Another Heavyweight Title Shot

    Deontay Wilder Could Land Another Heavyweight Title Shot

    Deontay Wilder could find himself back in the heavyweight title picture if Oleksandr Usyk vacates the WBC title rather than face mandatory challenger Agit Kabayel, with Kabayel already publicly welcoming a fight with the former champion.

    Kabayel, the unbeaten German who currently holds the WBC interim heavyweight title, made his interest clear when speaking to talkSport Boxing.

    “Let’s do it in Germany. Deontay Wilder vs Kabayel.”

    Wilder’s ranking keeps the scenario realistic. He currently sits at number seven with both the WBC and WBO and number ten in the IBF rankings despite back-to-back losses to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang. His April return saw him edge Derek Chisora by split decision, scoring two knockdowns in a performance that kept him relevant without fully answering questions about how much he has left.

    Should Usyk choose to vacate the WBC title rather than meet his mandatory obligation, Kabayel would likely be elevated from interim to full champion and would need a mandatory defense. Wilder’s position in the WBC rankings could put him in line for exactly that opportunity.

    Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are both expected to be occupied with their own commitments in the coming months, leaving gaps in the heavyweight contender landscape that Wilder could fill. A world title shot appeared impossible for Wilder just a few months ago. His ranking means it may be closer than it looks.

  • Jarrell Miller Outworks Lenier Pero, Calls Out Deontay Wilder

    Jarrell Miller Outworks Lenier Pero, Calls Out Deontay Wilder

    Jarrell Miller outworked previously unbeaten Lenier Pero over 12 rounds to win a unanimous decision Saturday night in a WBA heavyweight title eliminator at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, then immediately turned his attention to Deontay Wilder.

    Two judges scored the bout 117-111 for Miller, with the third turning in a 115-113 card. Miller improved to 28-1-2 with 22 knockouts. Pero fell to 13-1, suffering the first loss of his professional career.

    The win positions Miller as the WBA mandatory challenger, putting him in line for a shot at unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk or, depending on how the picture shakes out, Daniel Dubois.

    Volume Carries the Night

    Miller and Pero combined to throw 1,652 punches in what ESPN described as a toe-to-toe slugfest. Miller alone threw 1,003, landing 290, per CompuBox. Pero was the more accurate man at 39 percent to Miller’s 29 percent, but he could not match the Brooklyn fighter’s pressure or volume.

    Pero started fast, using his southpaw jab and clean counters to outbox Miller from range through the early rounds. Miller, who weighed 305 pounds to Pero’s 251, turned the fight into a phonebooth brawl from the third round on, walking the Cuban down to the ropes and trading on the inside.

    By the 11th round, an exhausted Pero was barely able to come out of his corner. He tried to rally midway through the 12th, but Miller closed the fight strong, trading power shots until the final bell. No knockdowns were scored.

    Miller Wants Wilder Next

    Miller wasted little time once he had the microphone, naming Tyson Fury, Wilder, and Pero’s brother Dainier Pero as targets. Wilder, who returned this month with a controversial split decision over Derek Chisora, drew the most pointed words.

    “Deontay, he said a long time ago that he doesn’t want to fight ‘Big Baby’ because I hurt his feelings,” Miller told DAZN. “If you don’t shut your pie a** up and come fight me, boy, we’re going to see.”

    Promoter Eddie Hearn quickly endorsed the matchup.

    “For me, when I look at the fights in the division, as a promoter, you want a fight with great build-up, you want a fight with jeopardy,” Hearn said. “The American fight is Deontay Wilder against Jarrell Miller. Run it in New York.”

    Miller, 37, has now strung together back-to-back wins for the first time since 2022, building on the form he showed in Saturday’s WBA eliminator main event. Asked about his trimmer appearance, he kept it light: “Every time I drop five pounds, I get to eat a cheesesteak.”

    His preferred next move, he said, is a slot on the Xander Zayas vs. Jaron Ennis card on June 27 in Brooklyn.

  • Eddie Hearn Reveals AJ vs. Fury Two-Fight Deal, Wilder Excluded

    Eddie Hearn Reveals AJ vs. Fury Two-Fight Deal, Wilder Excluded

    Eddie Hearn has laid out the specifics of the Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury deal for the first time, confirming a two-fight structure that deliberately excludes Deontay Wilder as Joshua’s warmup opponent.

    Speaking with talkSPORT Boxing at the Glory in Giza press event in Egypt, Hearn said the offer on the table calls for Joshua to fight in July before facing Fury later in the year.

    “The deal that we’ve been offered, which is to fight in July and then fight Tyson Fury in November, is not with Deontay Wilder in mind,” Hearn said. “I think the powers that be don’t really want us to be in that type of fight. We’re up for it. AJ’s also said to me, ‘I will fight Wilder and I will fight Fury back to back.’ But July in the UK looks likely.”

    Turki Alalshikh and Riyadh Season Driving the Offer

    Hearn identified the source of the deal as Turki Alalshikh and Riyadh Season, the Saudi-backed entity that has bankrolled several of boxing’s biggest events over the past two years.

    “This is an offer that’s been made by Turki and Riyadh Season, wherever that fight could be, in July, and then fight Tyson Fury,” Hearn said. “That’s the deal that’s been proposed to us at the moment, and that looks like the route that we will take.”

    Hearn Would Pick Wilder, But It’s Not His Call

    The Matchroom promoter was candid about the tension between what he’d do as a promoter and what the deal structure allows. He openly acknowledged that Wilder would be his first choice for a July warmup if he were running the show.

    “If we were promoting the event, that’s exactly what I’d be doing, Deontay Wilder or Tyson Fury,” Hearn said. “But this is a deal put to us with Fury against AJ as the mountaintop of that deal. There’ll be a lot of people that won’t want to go into a fight that they feel is risky and put that fight at jeopardy.”

    He added: “We have no problem fighting Wilder. I don’t think it will be Wilder under the basis of this deal, but we’ll have to see.”

    Netflix Jumped the Gun

    Hearn also directly contradicted Netflix’s social media announcement that the Joshua vs. Fury fight is confirmed.

    “Netflix put a tweet out saying it’s on. It’s not on,” Hearn said. “AJ didn’t want to put himself in a position and almost tell the British public that after all these years we’ve got it, it’s on, because it’s not. Now, will it be on? I truly believe so. And my instruction from Anthony Joshua is: make the fight.”

    Joshua attended the Fury vs. Makhmudov fight on Saturday but refused to enter the ring for a premature announcement. Hearn said Joshua asked him directly whether the deal was done and declined to go out when told it wasn’t.

    The Power Has Shifted

    Hearn framed the current negotiation dynamic as a complete reversal from years past, when Fury held the belts and demanded 60-40 splits.

    “It was the first time Fury’s kind of come out and gone, ‘I want you. You’re the only fight I want next,’” Hearn said. “And it was good to hear, and AJ’s the landlord.”

    Hearn also referenced Joshua’s personal struggles without going into specifics, asking fans for patience as the timeline plays out.

    “Sometimes people are quick to forget that,” Hearn said. “The work that he’s put in to even get himself to this position has been so admirable. It’s been incredible. I think it’s great just having him around after what’s happened. He’s ready and he’s motivated, but we’ve got to do it right.”

  • Deontay Wilder vs Derek Chisora Referee Avoids Sanctions

    Deontay Wilder vs Derek Chisora Referee Avoids Sanctions

    Referee Mark Bates will face no disciplinary action from the British Boxing Board of Control following his widely criticized performance during Deontay Wilder’s split decision victory over Derek Chisora at The O2 Arena in London on Saturday night.

    The board confirmed today that it will not pursue sanctions against Bates or any other officials connected to the event, despite the backlash that followed the heavyweight bout.

    Wilder had called for Bates to be banned from refereeing after what he described as repeated failures to protect him throughout the fight. Speaking to the media, the former world champion said he was struck in the back of the head between 10 and 12 times without any intervention from the referee.

    The controversy began in the opening round when Bates allowed Chisora’s coach to enter the ring, an incident that set the tone for what followed. The eighth round brought further scrutiny when Wilder scored a knockdown, only for a trainer to be seen propping up the retiring heavyweight, who also used the ropes to assist his return to his feet.

    In the aftermath of that sequence, it was Wilder who had a point deducted. The decision led to a strong reaction on social media, particularly from fans from the US who felt the officiating was weighted heavily in favor of the home fighter.

    Wilder revealed after the fight that he deliberately eased off on Chisora in the later rounds to avoid inflicting permanent damage following the knockdown, a decision that may have contributed to the bout going the distance. He secured the split decision victory but declined to announce his retirement from boxing in the aftermath.

  • Claressa Shields Reacts Brutally to Deontay Wilder vs Anthony Joshua Rumors

    Claressa Shields Reacts Brutally to Deontay Wilder vs Anthony Joshua Rumors

    Claressa Shields recently dismissed the idea of a fight between Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua. She said the matchup no longer appeals to her despite renewed speculation following Wilder’s recent win.

    The former two-division undisputed champion reacted to Wilder’s split decision victory over Derek Chisora on April 4 at the O2 Arena in London. Wilder defeated Chisora in a messy but entertaining main event on an MF Pro fight card in association with Queensberry Promotions,

    Claressa Shields Reacts to Potential Joshua Matchup

    Reflecting on the Wilder-Chisora fight, Shields said:

    “They both crazy. I was happy to see Deontay Wilder get a win and not get hurt. And I want both of those guys to happily retire.”

    Following Wilder’s victory, he and Joshua had an awkward encounter that fueled speculation about a potential fight between the two aging heavyweights. When asked if Wilder vs Joshua is still an enticing matchup, Shields was direct in her assessment.

    “Not to me, but hey, if they want to do it, then go ahead,” she said.

    The potential Wilder-Joshua fight has been discussed for years but never materialized when both fighters were in their primes. Whether the two former world champions will finally meet in the ring remains to be seen.

  • Wilder Edges Chisora by Split Decision in London Slugfest

    Wilder Edges Chisora by Split Decision in London Slugfest

    Deontay Wilder won a split decision over Derek Chisora on Saturday at The O2 Arena in London, taking their 12-round DAZN pay-per-view main event by scores of 115-111, 112-115, and 115-113.

    It was the 50th professional fight for both men, and the bout lived up to its billing as a power-punching heavyweight brawl. Chisora, who weighed in at 266.7 pounds on Friday, pressed the action throughout, working the body and throwing wide hooks. Wilder used his reach and jab to control distance but struggled to find clean shots early.

    Wilder scored knockdowns in the fourth and eighth rounds, both with his trademark right hand. The eighth-round sequence was the fight’s defining moment, as Wilder backed Chisora into a corner and unloaded. Chisora survived both times and continued fighting back. Wilder also had a point deducted during a chaotically officiated bout.

    The win was only the second decision victory of Wilder’s career, moving his record to 45-4-1 (43 KOs). Chisora drops to 36-14 (23 KOs).

    Wilder Calls for Compassion, Eyes Title Run

    Post-fight, Wilder said he pulled back in the later rounds after noticing swelling around Chisora’s temple. “Too many lives have been lost in this ring, nobody gives a damn about us,” Wilder told DAZN. “Us fighters have to look out for each other.”

    Wilder also said he is targeting another title run, calling the fight “magnificent” and inviting Chisora to go fishing in Alabama. With back-to-back wins now under his belt, a potential matchup with Anthony Joshua could be next on the radar.

    Chisora Teases Retirement, Leaves Door Open

    Chisora had said before the fight that this would be his final bout, but he declined to commit to retirement afterward. He thanked fans for supporting his career since he arrived in the UK at age 16 and started boxing, but stopped short of saying it was over for good.

    Full Card Results

    • Deontay Wilder def. Derek Chisora, split decision (115-111, 112-115, 115-113)
    • Viddal Riley def. Mateusz Masternak, unanimous decision (118-110, 118-110, 119-109) — wins European cruiserweight title
    • Denzel Bentley def. Endry Saavedra, TKO Round 7 — wins WBO interim middleweight title
    • Matty Harris def. Franklin Ignatius, KO Round 2
    • Amir Anderson def. Jordan Dujon, TKO Round 8
    • Ashton Sylve def. Raul Antonio Galaviz Hernandez, unanimous decision (80-72, 80-72, 78-74)
    • Jermaine Dhliwayo def. Jake Morgan, TKO Round 7
    • Dan Toward def. Misael Da Veiga, TKO Round 3
  • Derek Chisora Comes In Significantly Heavier Than Deontay Wilder

    Derek Chisora Comes In Significantly Heavier Than Deontay Wilder

    Derek Chisora will carry a significant weight advantage into his Saturday showdown with Deontay Wilder. At Friday’s weigh-ins for their 12-round main event at The O2 Arena in London, Chisora tipped the scales at 266.7 pounds while Wilder came in at 226.4 pounds.

    The 40-pound weight difference is not unusual for Wilder, who has consistently competed on the smaller side of the heavyweight division. The former WBC champion gave up similar weight disadvantages in his trilogy of fights with Tyson Fury.

    Chisora Wears Fury Mask During Face-Off

    After weighing in, Chisora appeared wearing a Tyson Fury mask during the final face-off, prompting a lighthearted exchange between the two fighters. “Hilarious,” Wilder said of the mask. “I ain’t know it was Halloween.”

    “I just wanted to put it on, because I know he’s got PTSD with Tyson Fury, and that’s the game of boxing,” Chisora said. “There’s crazy mind games.”

    Both Fighters Ready for 50th Career Bout

    Despite the pre-fight theatrics, both fighters remained respectful during their final interview. The bout marks the 50th professional fight for both men and is billed as Chisora’s retirement fight.

    “I think all of you know what time it is,” Chisora said. “When I strap up the boots, when I strap up the gloves, I go in there, there’s only one thing: F*ck it, let’s go! So, there’s no point in trying to sugarcoat it, and A, and B, and C. I know for a fact this is going to be an amazing fight between me and this man right here.”

    Wilder emphasized his focus heading into the fight. “I had a lot of things going on. But this time around? There’s nothing,” Wilder said. “All the way around.”

    Full Weigh-In Results

    Deontay Wilder (226.4) vs. Derek Chisora (266.7)

    Mateusz Masternak (199) vs. Viddal Riley (198.3), EBU European Cruiserweight Title Fight

    Denzel Bentley (159.6) vs. Endry Saavedra (159.7), Interim WBO Middleweight Title Fight

    Matty Harris (249.2) vs. Franklin Ignatius (237.4)

    Amir Anderson (159.5) vs. Jordan Dujon (162.9)

    Ashton Sylve (143) vs. Raul Antonio Galaviz Hernandez (144)

    Jermaine Dhilwayo (126.9) vs. Jake Morgan (126.2)

    Dan Toward (155) vs. Misael Da Veiga (151.8)

    Tom Welland (131.5) vs. Alexander Morales (128.8)

    The Wilder vs. Chisora card streams live on DAZN pay-per-view on Saturday.

  • Wilder vs. Chisora Preview: Full Card, Odds, How to Watch

    Wilder vs. Chisora Preview: Full Card, Odds, How to Watch

    Deontay Wilder (44-4-1, 43 KOs) and Derek Chisora (36-13, 23 KOs) collide Saturday, April 4 at the O2 Arena in London. It’s the 50th professional fight for both men, and the stakes couldn’t look more different. For Chisora, it’s a farewell. For Wilder, it’s supposed to be a relaunch.

    The main card streams on DAZN PPV beginning at 2 p.m. ET. Ring walks for the main event are expected around 5 p.m. ET (10 p.m. BST).

    What’s at Stake

    Chisora has called this his retirement fight, and he’s earned the right to frame it that way. The 42-year-old Londoner rides a three-fight win streak into his home arena, with decision victories over Joe Joyce and Otto Wallin giving him legitimate momentum heading into his final bout.

    Wilder, 40, needs this fight to mean something beyond a payday. The former WBC heavyweight champion has gone 2-4 since losing the title to Tyson Fury in 2020, with losses to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang raising serious questions about what’s left. His June 2025 stoppage of Tyrrell Herndon got him back in the win column, but the level of opposition didn’t answer much.

    A convincing win could set up a potential summer fight with Oleksandr Usyk, who has publicly expressed interest in adding Wilder to his resume before he retires. But Wilder would need to look the part, not just survive.

    The Matchup

    The dynamic is straightforward. Chisora pressures, throws volume, and wears opponents down over 12 rounds. Wilder hunts for one shot. If the fight goes long, it favors Chisora. If it doesn’t, Wilder probably found the right hand.

    Wilder has a new head trainer in Don House, who replaced Malik Scott ahead of the Herndon fight. Wilder described Scott as a “brother” and credited him for helping through a difficult stretch, but the change signals a desire for a fresh approach. House has trained over 28 champions across boxing and MMA.

    The concern with Wilder goes beyond the record. His punch output has dropped significantly in recent fights, he absorbed heavy punishment against Zhang, and at 40 years old, the physical decline is harder to reverse. Even Chisora has acknowledged the toll the Fury trilogy took on Wilder.

    Betting Odds

    Chisora is the favorite at -190 on DraftKings Sportsbook. Wilder is the underdog at +150. The over/under is set at 8.5 rounds, with the over at -125 and the under at -110. A knockout finish is expected by most books regardless of the winner.

    Full Fight Card (DAZN PPV)

    Main Event: Derek Chisora vs. Deontay Wilder, Heavyweight, 12 rounds

    Co-Main: Viddal Riley (13-0) vs. Mateusz Masternak (50-6), IBF World Cruiserweight Title Eliminator

    Undercard:

    Denzel Bentley vs. Endry Saavedra, Interim WBO World Middleweight Title

    Matty Harris vs. Franklin Ignatius, Heavyweight

    Amir Anderson vs. Jordan Dujon, Middleweight

    Dan Toward vs. Misael Da Veiga, Super Welterweight

    Jermaine Dhliwayo vs. Jake Morgan

    Ashton Sylve vs. Tony Galaviz, Super Lightweight

    Tom Welland vs. Alexander Morales

    How to Watch

    The event streams exclusively on DAZN pay-per-view. In the U.S., the main card starts at 2 p.m. ET. A DAZN subscription is required. The fight can be accessed via the DAZN app on smart TVs, phones, tablets, streaming devices, game consoles, and web browsers.

  • John Fury Says ‘Everything’ Is Gone From Tyson After Wilder Wars

    John Fury Says ‘Everything’ Is Gone From Tyson After Wilder Wars

    John Fury delivered a scathing assessment of his son Tyson’s physical and tactical decline in a wide-ranging interview on Playbook Boxing, arguing the three-fight series with Deontay Wilder permanently diminished the heavyweight champion ahead of his April 11 return.

    Asked point-blank what is missing from Tyson now — technically and tactically — John’s answer was a single word.

    “Everything. When you fight one of the hardest punchers in boxing history three times, it takes something out. You can never fill that tank up like you had it before.”

    The Wilder Wars Left Permanent Damage

    John traced the root of his son’s decline directly to the Wilder trilogy, particularly the toll of going to the absolute limit in brutal heavyweight warfare. He recalled a conversation with Tyson that stayed with him.

    “He said afterward, ‘Dad, I was prepared to die.’ And when he got that knockout on Wilder, he had nothing left after that. He laid it all on the line.”

    His assessment of the two Oleksandr Usyk fights was blunt.

    “I watched the Usyk fight last time — power weren’t there. The moves was there, but after six or seven rounds, it was fading quick. The old Tyson would have knocked them out in five rounds before he met Wilder, because he’d have the engine standing in the middle of the ring and keep going. There’s no two-phased attacks. There’s nothing. When there is a handle, it’s labored. The legs ain’t there.”

    ‘You Only Find Out When the First Bell Rings’

    The most troubling element, John argued, is that the true state of Tyson’s legs cannot be evaluated in a gym — only under fire.

    “People don’t understand — it’s not in the training. It’s when the first bell rings. He’ll only find that out when the first bell rings.”

    He had begged Tyson to walk away after the second Usyk loss, a plea he now makes publicly.

    “I said to him: you’re out 18 months. Forget it. You’re not what you were. Leave it. Begged and prayed of him. Leave it. Your power’s not up to scratch.”

    Usyk Getting Smarter, Tyson Getting Older

    John also pointed to the contrasting career management of Usyk as evidence the scales are tilting further against any potential trilogy. While Tyson chose a difficult fight in Arslanbek Makhmudov for his April comeback, Usyk has taken a calculated route against Rico Verhoeven.

    “Nothing’s going to change because Tyson’s getting weaker and Usyk’s getting stronger, because Usyk’s smarter. He’s having the easier route. Father time waits for no one. He’ll let Fury do all the donkey work and it’ll make it easier for the trilogy.”

    John’s verdict on the fight choice itself was equally damning:

    “What he should have done is box clever. Let two men kill each other. But what’s he done? He’s being a hero. Ego has took over his brain power.”

    The Mental Health Dimension

    John also offered rare context for what was happening behind the scenes during Tyson’s well-documented mental health struggles — revealing that he was quietly fighting his own crisis at the same time, and that neither knew the other was equally broken.

    “I went for a walk with Tyson. He was ill at this time. But little did he know I was iller than him. We were both messed up in the head walking on that road. He’s saying, ‘This ain’t right now.’ I’m thinking, ‘I’m not on my own here.’”

    Most strikingly, John revealed that just two weeks before the first Usyk fight, Tyson broke down mid-sparring and John called for the bout to be pulled entirely.

    “Two weeks before the Usyk fight — two rounds sparring. He’s laid down in the ring and he’s crying his eyes out. I said, ‘Stop. Right. Pull the fight.’ My head’s gone. Yours is gone. We need time to rebuild our minds.”

    That Tyson fought on — and pushed through — speaks to the same quality John cited from the Wilder years. But it also raises questions about the judgment calls being made around him, and whether the people in his corner are giving him the honest counsel a fighter needs heading into another dangerous heavyweight assignment.

    The physical decline is only part of John’s concern. In the same interview, he confirmed the father-son relationship is effectively over and explained why he will not be present at ringside on April 11. He also addressed the Jake Paul rematch situation and a big upcoming fight for Tommy Fury.

  • Deontay Wilder Taunts Derek Chisora: ‘Try to Kill Me’

    Deontay Wilder Taunts Derek Chisora: ‘Try to Kill Me’

    Deontay Wilder recently sent out a message tp Derek Chisora ahead of their April 4th clash at the O2 Arena in London — and it isn’t exactly what you’d expect from a man who calls his opponent a friend.

    Speaking with Louis Hart of Ring Magazine during fight week in London, Wilder revealed exactly what he told Chisora when the two had their last real conversation before the fight.

    “When I say that we can be friends on the outside, but when that fight comes, we going to turn that off. I’ve already told him — I want you to try to kill me. You understand me? And he looked at me kind of weird… like, that’s what I need.”

    The Last Conversation

    Wilder described a deliberate pre-fight ritual of cutting off communication entirely — something he’s done before, even with people close to him personally.

    “I also had a brother that I fought and I told him the same thing. This is going to be the last time we talk. The next time we see each other, we going to be in each other’s face. We going to be at war — because I need that point of time to turn it off.”

    The contrast between genuine friendship and fight-night ferocity is something Wilder says he’s made peace with. He’s cordial, even warm, with Chisora outside the ropes — but none of that carries into the ring.

    “I can be cordial, I can be friendly with anyone — but that don’t mean that I can’t switch to want to whoop your ass. That’s just what it is. We’re fighters. I’m a fighter. And I’m proven to be that way. This is not just talk.”

    Fight 50 at the O2

    The April 4 bout marks Wilder’s 50th professional fight — a milestone the former WBC heavyweight champion is approaching with a full head of competitive steam. Wilder says the setting only adds to the sense of occasion.

    “April the 4th at the O2 Arena — it’s going to be electrifying, it’s going to be crazy. It feels like my debut all over again. And I can’t wait.”

    Wilder has been away from the UK since his Sheffield debut years ago, and the return carries emotional weight. But make no mistake — whatever warmth he has for the country, and whatever friendship exists between him and Chisora, will be switched off long before the opening bell.