Deontay Wilder has picked his favorite knockout, and it's not one of the bigger names on his record. The former WBC heavyweight champion says his 2019 first-round stoppage of Dominic Breazeale tops the list.
Wilder, now 39, built a fearsome reputation as one of the hardest hitters in heavyweight history. The Tuscaloosa, Alabama native racked up 42 knockouts in 43 wins, giving him a staggering 97% KO ratio.
The 'Bronze Bomber' is getting ready for a comeback fight on June 27 against Tyrrell Herndon at the Charles Koch Arena in Wichita. It's a non-title bout that comes after two tough losses to Joseph Parker and a brutal defeat to Zhilei Zhang in June 2023.
In an interview with Bloody Elbow, Wilder talked about his favorite KO:
"My favourite one I think it always goes back to the Dominic Breazeale knockout, because of the intensity of and the storyline that led up with it, you know all of that stuff, I was really being lied on about a lot of things and you know people try to take my character inside of boxing and press conferences try to judge me off of who I am truly. You know you gotta get to know a person."
The fight happened at the Barclays Center in New York. It was Wilder's first bout after his memorable draw with Tyson Fury. The build-up had been intense, and Wilder responded in the ring with a devastating right hand that flattened Breazeale in the opening round.
Wilder's career took a turn after that fight. He lost his next two bouts with Fury, ending his reign as WBC champion. Now, he's looking to get back on track.
ESPN reports that Wilder's comeback fight against Herndon is set for June 27. Fans will watch closely to see if the 'Bronze Bomber' can recapture the form that made him one of boxing's most feared punchers.
