Legendary boxing promoter Bob Arum has delivered a blunt assessment of Deontay Wilder's future in the heavyweight division. He believes Wilder's chances of winning another world title are now over.
Wilder, known as "The Bronze Bomber," has been one of the most explosive punchers in boxing. At 39 years old, the former WBC heavyweight champion boasts an impressive record of 43 victories, with 42 coming by knockout. He's known for his devastating power, having stopped tough opponents like Luiz Ortiz, Artur Szpilka, and Robert Helenius.
But recent events have cast doubt on Wilder's future at the top level. He's coming off back-to-back losses against Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang. The defeat to Zhang was particularly brutal, ending in a 5th round TKO.
Despite these setbacks, Wilder isn't ready to hang up his gloves just yet. He's expected to return to the ring within the next couple of months, with Curtis Harper rumored as a potential opponent.
But Bob Arum, who has worked with Wilder in the past for his fights against Tyson Fury, doesn't see a path back to the top for the American. In a recent interview, Arum didn't mince words:
"It's over for him [Wilder] as well as over for [Anthony] Joshua. Maybe they can fight each other, that'd be good."
Arum extended his pessimistic outlook to another former champion, Anthony Joshua, who recently suffered a devastating loss to Daniel Dubois.
When asked about Wilder's decision to continue fighting, Arum took a more cautious stance:
"I don't know how he checks out physically with doctors and so forth, so I can't even make a decision."
The harsh reality is that time catches up with every fighter, even those with Wilder's exceptional power. While "The Bronze Bomber" still believes he has something left to give, Arum's comments suggest that the final chapter of Wilder's storied career may be closer than the fighter himself realizes.
