Deontay Wilder plans to keep fighting despite recent setbacks in Saudi Arabia. The former WBC Heavyweight Champion lost two fights in a row, raising questions about his future in boxing.
Wilder's trainer, Malik Scott, told Genting Casino that the 'Bronze Bomber' will return to the ring. Scott said, "He'll be back. Deontay will fight again. He still has a bright future in boxing, especially at the high level."
The American heavyweight lost on points to Joseph Parker and then got knocked out by Zhilei Zhang. Wilder seemed unusually cautious in both fights, a far cry from his usual aggressive style.
Before the Zhang fight, Wilder had mentioned retirement as a possibility if he lost. Even heavyweight legend Lennox Lewis urged him to hang up his gloves. But it looks like Wilder isn't ready to call it quits just yet.
Right now, Wilder's taking some time off. Scott shared that he's recovering, enjoying life, and focusing on his real estate and investment ventures. He also had a great vacation with his kids.
When Wilder does come back, there are some big names in the mix for potential opponents. Scott thinks fights with Anthony Joshua, Derek Chisora, or Francis Ngannou could still draw huge crowds.
"They are still mega fights. Maybe [Joshua] doesn't have the same juice it once did, but it would still sell out any arena or stadium. 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."
Interestingly, Lawrence Okolie offered Wilder a shot at the WBC Bridgerweight title. Okolie said, "If he wants to keep boxing then it's probably worth boxing at Bridgerweight against maybe the WBC bridgerweight world champion. That would be a great fight."
But Wilder's manager, Shelly Finkel, quickly shot down that idea. He told World Boxing News, "Please thank Lawrence Okolie for the offer, but we have no interest in the WBC bridgerweight title."
Fans are eager to hear from Wilder himself about his comeback plans. The Joshua fight, which seemed unlikely not long ago, now looks like it could happen. It's clear that despite his recent losses, Wilder still has plenty of options in the heavyweight division.
