Deontay Wilder has taken on a new challenge with his impending return.
The “Bronze Bomber” is set to face Zhilei Zhang in June as he looks to bounce back from a shock loss to Joseph Parker, and won’t be short of options if he gets back to winning ways.
2
One of them is American prospect Jared Anderson, who Wilder’s former foe Tyson Fury has tipped to reach the top of the division and become the next world champion.
Anderson, who will face Ryad Merhy on April 13, believes his national counterpart will be no match for him.
“I respect Deontay,” he said. “I think he packs a serious punch.
“But he can’t beat me, and I’m going to leave it at that. I’m too complete a boxer and I’m going to beat him tremendously.
“The most important thing they told me was to stay the course and keep trying to get better every day.
“So that when they show up with this big name to put me on the map and the world can see it, I’m 100 percent ready and I don’t need to prepare.”
Anderson has 16 victories since the start of his undefeated professional career, with his most notable victory coming against former world champion Charles Martin in June 2023.
The ‘Real Big Baby’ sparred with Fury for his clash with Dillian Whyte in April, and the ‘Gypsy King’ was seriously impressed by the rising star.
2
He designated Anderson as “the heir to the throne,” and those will be words that inspire Anderson to move on to big things.
A test with Wilder would be the sternest test of his career, but could be realistic in the new mix of heavyweight talent competing in Saudi Arabia.
The 38-year-old looks in top form in training, and his trainer Malik Scott believes his fighter has one last hurray in the division.
Wilder looked lackluster in his unanimous decision loss to Parker in December 2023 and was asked about a possible retirement.
But his coach Scott even bizarrely attributed the defeat to his use of the recreational drug, Ayahuasca, during the preparation for the competition.
It’s the last chance saloon for the former WBC champion, but a win could see him back in contention for world titles.
Sports
A new variant of COVID-19 is raising questions and capturing the attention of researchers as we approach fall and winter.…
OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- A Stanford student is doing his part to build a better San Francisco Bay Area.He builds…
The Secret Service "acted so quickly and so decisively" to thwart an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at…
Crime Authorities say the man was involved in several accidents. A football game between UCLA and the University of Colorado…
Washington state lawyers will have past grocery chain mergers — and their negative consequences — in mind when they go…
Ben Affleck "couldn't keep his hands off" Jennifer Lopez during their brunch on Saturday, a source exclusively tells Page Six.…