Deontay Wilder is often seen as one of boxing’s greatest fighters. He holds the record for the longest reign as heavyweight champion and has the highest knockout win percentage in history. His knockout power is often compared to the precision of a Federer tennis serve.

On January 1st, the boxing scene stirred up on social media platform X after a surprising post about American boxing champion Deontay Wilder. A parody account impersonating boxing journalist Michael Benson, under the handle @MichealBensonn, shared fake news claiming Wilder would retire at 39 years old.

Wilder started boxing at 20 to support his daughter’s medical needs and built an impressive 12-year career with 48 professional fights. After just 35 amateur bouts, he earned a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Recognizing his potential, he pushed further and became a world champion. He defended his heavyweight title 10 times, surpassing icons like Mike Tyson and Joe Frazier.

His last fight was against Chinese star Zhilei Zhang, ending in a fifth-round technical knockout loss in Saudi Arabia. Zhang’s powerful right hand threw Wilder off balance and landed squarely on his face, shocking fans worldwide. This loss fueled speculation about his retirement, especially since it followed another defeat to Joseph Parker in December 2023. Wilder had previously hinted at retirement if he couldn’t recover from the Parker loss, making the situation seem more plausible.

One of his most memorable moments came in his fight against Tyson Fury, known as the Gypsy King. In their split draw, Deontay Wilder celebrated after knocking Fury down with a stunning combination, but Fury rose at the last moment to beat the count in the 12th round. While he hasn’t been universally recognized as the greatest of all time, his natural talent and achievements stand out, despite some criticism.

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Wilder’s trainer, Malik Scott, has publicly denied the retirement rumors, saying, “Right now, he’s doing great. He’s recovering, enjoying life, and very involved in his real estate investments. He just had a great vacation with his kids.“

Despite this, fans remain skeptical since neither Wilder nor his team has officially addressed the rumors. There’s still a chance Wilder might step into the ring a few more times before retiring. Two potential opponents could be Francis Ngannou and Anthony Joshua. Wilder was set to face Joshua this year, but his loss to Zhang derailed the agreement.  Scott acknowledged this, adding, “Just seeing those two in the ring would be a joy for the fans. If Ngannou keeps doing what he’s doing and still wants that fight, it could be huge as well.”

CONCLUSION

Deontay Wilder began boxing out of necessity, hoping to make a living as a journeyman to support his family. He never imagined he’d go on to secure a title shot, let alone achieve so much in the sport. Unlike fighters like Usyk, Fury, and Zhang, who trained from a young age to chase success, He started in his 20s and still accomplished more than most.

It’s easy to wonder how much greater he could have been if he’d started earlier, but even as it stands, his story will continue to inspire many. Criticism aside, there’s little reason to disrespect him—he’s achieved more in his career than many people ever will.

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