By Edward Chaykovsky, photo by Ryan Hafey/PBC
WBC heavyweight world champion Deontay Wilder (38-0, 37 KOs) is very motivated to rebuild the excitement factor of his division.
He believes that brothers Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, once they dominated the division for over a decade, made the heavyweight division boring and fans began turning away from boxing's most prestigious division.
Wladimir was by far the more active of the two, and dominated opponents in rather one-sided fights that were technical from start to finish. He rarely every took chances and used his long, accurate jab to break opponents down.
The entire division began to change after Tyson Fury knocked off Klitschko with an upset decision.
Presently, the title belts are all over the place. Wilder has the WBC, Joseph Parker holds the WBO and Anthony Joshua has the IBF. Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko collide next month for the vacant WBA, IBO world titles.
Wilder wants to fight all of the champions to accomplish his main goal - to unify the entire division. He wants to have at least one unification bout before the end of the year.
“The Klitschkos made it boring, they know that,” said Wilder to Rolling Out. “It feels good, it feels really good [to be part of bringing the division back]. I just want to bring the heavyweight division back to where it’s great again.”
“I’m just happy to be part of (the heavyweight) movement. My main and ultimate goal is to unify the division. Once I have all of the belts, No. 1 and No. 2, guys, let’s go! All of the mandatory [challengers], let’s go! Once I unify, all of the names that [are] up-and-coming and all of the names people want me to see will be more realistic to happen.”
Wilder returned last month with a stoppage win over previously undefeated Gerald Washington (18-1-1). He was originally scheduled to face Polish contender Andrzej Wawrzyk, who was quickly replaced after failing a pre-drug test.