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Deontay Wilder could fight for a title in his return to boxing.

Wilder was once the feared WBC heavyweight champion, going unbeaten in his first 43 contests, making 10 defences of the belt and knocking out the likes of Luis Ortiz, Bermane Stiverne, Chris Arreola, Eric Molina and Dominic Breazeale.

His title reign was brought to an end in 2020 when he was stopped by Tyson Fury, and ‘The Bronze Bomber’ has found it extremely difficult inside the ring since then.

Deontay Wilder Offered New Heavyweight Title Shot For Shock Comeback Fight

READ: Tyson Fury Posts Cryptic 4 Word Message As Fans Urge Him To Return To Face Anthony Joshua

Wilder lost a further fight to Fury in October 2021, and while he knocked out Robert Helenius a year after that, he has since suffered defeats to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang in his last two outings.

The loss to Zhang came via devastating fifth round knockout, with many fans wondering if they may see the American back in the ring again.

Wilder has now been offered a title shot upon his return though, after WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman indicated to Sky Sports that he could take on WBC interim heavyweight champion Agit Kabayel, due to the WBC not wanting to force a mandatory on Oleksandr Usyk.

“The winner of Zhang-Kabayel is of the highest level. But also we are supporting [undisputed] again because how can you see Usyk lose a belt? That was horrible. Now they might fight again for undisputed with [Daniel] Dubois. We will see. We’re not going to push anything.

“We will [support an undisputed heavyweight title fight] and we will assess what is happening, what is the best scenario.

“[Kabayel] has the WBC interim championship that [he] can defend. There’s other big fights like Joshua, Wilder or eventually even Fury. So many other possible great fights.”

Kabayel has an undefeated record of 26-0 with 18 knockouts, and has claimed wins over Zhang, Frank Sanchez and Arslanbek Makhmudov in his last three contests to become a serious threat in the heavyweight division.

It still remains to be seen if Wilder will indeed return, and his long-time rival Fury has shared his stance on if his former foe should return.

Deontay Wilder was poised to announce a comeback fight for April after back-to-back losses in Saudi Arabia.

The former WBC Heavyweight Champion was beaten on points by Joseph Parker and knocked out by Zhilei Zhang in his last two efforts, with both performances leading many in the sport to believe retirement was near.

Wilder confirmed he would fight on and had reportedly agreed to face American heavyweight Curtis Harper as part of a BLK Prime show. It was reported in early February that a contractual dispute saw the bout fall through.

Deontay Wilder Makes Final Decision On Boxing Future After Comeback Fight Collapses

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There has been no news since as to when the knockout artist from Alabama is set to return, again prompting theories that this could be it at 39-year-old.

However, Wilder’s trainer, friend and former opponent Malik Scott has now confirmed to Space Port Sweden that his charge still intends to step through the ropes again.

“Fighting is in Deontay’s heart. He’ll fight again. Deontay will fight again. He just moves on his own terms and does things how he wants to do them.

“Especially when it comes to the business aspect of things because like I said he doesn’t need this, so he ain’t going to do it if all the terms are not right. He’s still Deontay Wilder. He’s still big time boxing and people still want to see him. He’ll fight again.”

The level and stage on which ‘The Bronze Bomber’ returns remains to be seen. While a tune-up fight is ideal given the manner of his last two defeats, time is not on his side.

Scott has again mentioned a fight against former UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou, who has had two boxing contests against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, losing on points to the former and by KO to the latter.

Deontay Wilder hit the end of his career following a second loss to Tyson Fury and should never have boxed again.

That’s the view of John Fury, the father of Tyson, who predicted Wilder’s demise after a Fight of the Year battle in October 2021. Fury said Wilder should walk away from the sport and not attempt a comeback.

On the face of Fury’s comments, those views may have been a fair reflection of where Wilder’s career has ended up. However, how the ever-brash John spoke was utterly unforgiving.

Deontay Wilder knocked down.

READ: Reason Behind the Majority Draw in Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach Fight

Wilder suffered back-to-back defeats at the height of his powers after missing out on a fight with Anthony Joshua in 2018. The Bronze Bomber turned to Fury, who was returning from a long absence, as he looked for a new dance partner.

Despite extensive back-and-forth correspondence between Eddie Hearn and Shelly Finkel, Joshua had walked away. It seemed Wilder was firmly a member of the ‘Who Needs Him Club?’ – for the Londoner. Given what happened with Fury over three fights, AJ might have been proven right about taking on Alexander Povetkin instead.

It’s safe to say neither Wilder nor Fury were ever the same again after their three-fight saga.

As talk began to hit boxing socials about a possible fourth fight, which Finkel had exclusively told World Boxing News was a possibility, ex-boxer John was having none of it. He was adamant that Wilder should grace the ring again, especially not against his son.

Tyson tore Wilder apart in February 2020 after surviving a controversial draw in late 2018. And eighteen months after the punishing return, the pair shared eleven captivating rounds in Las Vegas to end the trilogy. That third effort, which saw both boxers hit the canvas more than once, is the only valid reason why a fourth fight would be a solid request from Team Wilder.

However, John spat venom at possibly giving the Tuscaloosa puncher another crack at the WBC heavyweight title.

“He will kill Deontay Wilder. That’s its start and end,” Fury told The Mirror. “I don’t even think Wilder should be boxing anymore. Look at [the third fight with Tyson]. It was all over every time Tyson caught him up the side of the head. He’s a pressure cooker ready to explode, him.

“He’ll get hit the wrong way and won’t come to Wilder. If I were Deontay Wilder, I would seriously consider retiring with my health intact. He’s made millions of dollars. Why risk it? The Gypsy King will kill him stone dead, and I don’t want that. I want the best man to win, go home healthy to their family, and do what’s right.

“It’s a sport at the end of the day. Even though I love it, we train to knock people out, but knocking out and permanent injuries? That’s another matter.

“I wish that on no athlete on no athlete. I’ve got kids and grandkids. I love them all. What I wouldn’t like to happen to mine, I definitely wouldn’t want to happen to other people.”

Instead, Fury embarked on a less-than-stellar run after Wilder. He faced Dillian Whyte, Derek Chisora, and Francis Ngannou as he aimed to keep his faculties intact for later life. The Wilder battles had taken plenty out of both, and they were no longer at the peak of their powers.

Wilder faced Robert Helenius, an opponent he’d spent many rounds sparring and knew he could beat. He did in less than a round, his only win in the five years since suffering his first loss to Fury.

Both have lost their last two in a row, proving that when fighters find that career-defining dance partner, they never come out of it as close to the men they were.

Joseph Parker has faced some of the heavyweight division’s biggest hitters, not least Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua.

Parker was served his first loss by ‘AJ’ back in 2018, losing his WBO World Heavyweight World Title in the process. Recently, he has built back on an incredible run of form that includes beating Wilder and Zhilei Zhang on points.

Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua

Speaking to Through The Ropes, Parker said Zhang – who put him down twice – hit harder than Wilder though admitted he perhaps hadn’t felt the full force of the American.

“I would say Zhang [hit harder] cause he dropped me twice and landed the cleaner shots. Wilder did hit hard but never really clean. I was lucky my hand was up to catch his punches.”

This sentiment was backed up in a conversation with Tony Bellew, who revealed that the New Zealander does believe ‘Big Bang’ has hit him hardest out of all opponents – that includes Wilder, Joshua and Dillian Whyte.

“[Parker] actually told me Zhang’s the hardest he’s ever been hit in his life. He said Zhang hits so hard.”

Next up for Parker may be one man who hits harder than even Zhang – current IBF World Champion Daniel Dubois on February 22. Dubois recently knocked out Joshua in five to retain the belt it after he was elevated from interim to full champ when Oleksandr Usyk vacated the belt.

Chinese southpaw Zhang returns on the same card to face Agit Kabayel. Should both he and Parker win, Zhang will be angling for a contracted rematch that never came to fruition.

Deontay Wilder’s trainer labels upcoming title unification fight as a ‘mismatch’

We have become accustomed to Deontay Wilder taking the headlines, however on this occasion, his trainer, Malik Scott, is the one taking the limelight.

It is just two weeks until WBA cruiserweight champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez faces off against WBO champion Chris ‘The Gentleman’ Billam-Smith in a unification clash out in Saudi Arabia, in the next instalment of ‘Riyadh Season’.

Scott is a trainer of Ramirez and will be there on the night to assist lead trainer Julian Chau.

After suffering the first defeat of his career to Dmitry Bivol in 2022, Ramirez has since moved up from light heavyweight to pursue a career in the cruiserweight division.

Now two fights in and having picked up the WBA strap last time out against Arsen Goulamirian, ‘Zurdo’ is looking to unify and set up a potential clash against Jai Opetaia.

His opponent, ‘CBS’ is in red-hot form.

After defeating former stablemate, now turned heavyweight, Lawrence Okolie, to become WBO champion, he has since defended his title against Mateusz Masternak and Richard Riakporhe.

Significantly, the victory against Riakporhe avenged the only defeat of his career to date.

Speaking to BoxingScene, ‘Zurdo’s’ trainer Scott has dismissed claims that this fight could be a 50:50.

“I had Zurdo for his fight with Joe Smith, and he did well. No disrespect to Billam-Smith, but this fight is a mismatch.”

Deontay Wilder
Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury during the WBC Heavyweight Championship bout at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday December 1, 2018. See PA story BOXING Los Angeles. Photo credit should read: Lionel Hahn/PA Wire

Scott went on to explain why he believes his fighter is far too-good for his opponent.

“Zurdo is a big, strong southpaw who’s faced tougher opponents than Billam-Smith,” Scott said. “He’s a powerful body puncher with great angles and an incredible boxing mind. Billam-Smith is big and keeps coming forward, but he’s a one-trick pony.”

He did credit Billam-Smith’s trainer, but he went on to explain how this fight will play out and what will be next in his career.

“He has a good trainer, but I think Zurdo takes over in the second half,” Scott said. “Zurdo has a dream team in his corner. I believe he’ll become undisputed champion, with Jai Opetaia as his only real challenge.”

Malik Scott believes strongly that his man will win the fight and win it in impressive style.

However, with ‘The Gentleman’ on such a significant win streak, this fight may turn out to be much tougher than he is expecting.

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