Lennox Lewis, the former undisputed heavyweight champion, wants Deontay Wilder to hang up his gloves for good. Lewis, who retired in 2003 and never came back, thinks it's time for Wilder to call it quits.
Wilder's career has taken a rough turn lately. He's lost four of his last five fights, including a knockout loss to Zhilei Zhang in June 2024. That defeat was a hard pill to swallow for the former WBC heavyweight champ, who held the title for over five years before losing to Tyson Fury in 2020.
Lewis, who beat big names like Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, and Vitali Klitschko in his day, shared his thoughts on social media:
"Deontay Wilder told us before the fight [with Zhang] that he would retire if he didn't win. I think that's a wise decision. He's more than carved out a life in which he can take care of his daughter, so before he suffers any more damage, it's best to leave the game with ur faculties intact because there's a LOT more life to live after boxing."
Lewis brings up some good points. Wilder's got enough money to take care of his family, and there's always the risk of brain damage in boxing. Plus, there's a whole life waiting after the ring.
Wilder's got a fight scheduled later this month against Tyrrell Herndon. But even his old rival, Tyson Fury, agrees with Lewis and thinks Wilder should call it a day.
