By Jake Donovan
Mention the phrase ‘American heavyweight’ and the reaction you’re most likely to receive is either one of disgust or a good old-fashioned belly laugh. It’s been a while there has been an American heavyweight worth rallying around.
Chris Arreola tried to be that guy, but fell into poor training habits and basically ate and drank away the best years of his prime. He’s rediscovered his love for the game, as evidenced by his stellar conditioning in his past few bouts, but is still a meaningful win a way from fans investing much stock into the comeback tour.
Enough American challengers have tried and failed against the Klitschko brothers (including Arreola) that they are beginning to bat their way around the lineup. Tony Thompson is in line for another mandatory title shot, with Eddie Chambers not very far behind after both came up way short against Wladimir Klitschko in separate title shots.
Fortunately for the American boxing scene, Deontay Wilder is used to serving as the odd man out.
The 6’7” Alabama native was the lone member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic boxing squad to earn a medal during the Beijing Games, earning a bronze to save his team from the embarrassment of being shut out altogether.
Three years and 20 fights later, the questions have already begun to surface of whether or not the 6’7” multi-sport athlete is once again prepared to carry the torch.
Some have critiqued his soft level of opposition to date in efforts to dismiss his perfect knockout-to-win ratio. Those who wonder when he’ll be ready to step it up in competition can take comfort in knowing that Wilder often asks the very same questions, though only to make sure that his handlers stick to the script.
“Even when I signed with Golden Boy Promotions, we had a plan to get to 25-0,” Wilder told Boxingscene.com videographer Bill Emes shortly after his most recent win, a first round knockout of David Long in Cincinnati. “By that time (25 fights) I should be where I need to. My lack of (amateur) experience is why we said 25-0.”
Wilder already knows the plan and why such a formula is in place. It doesn’t mean he isn’t as anxious as everyone else to get to the point where the real tests happen.
“We’ve been slowly moving and believing me, my patience is running out as well. One of the hardest things about being human is having patience. Come 2012, you’re going to see some great fights from me.”
In the meantime, fans will have to settle for great knockouts, such as the one that came on Saturday in Cincinnati. The HBO cameras weren’t rolling at the time of his undercard bout, but footage has made its way to YouTube of his highlight reel knockout. A minute or so of feel-‘em out action led to a sudden ending, when Wilder connected with a booming right hand that had Long – a local heavyweight – out before he even hit the canvas.
The win was Wilder’s 20th knockout in as many fights, with the goal to maintain that 100% ratio regardless of how high the competition level begins to increase.
“When you go places, no matter where you from, when the crowd hears it they go crazy,” Wilder says of any fighter who is able to boast a record of every win coming by knockout. “When I first started, I set a goal that I want all my wins to be by knockout. People think that’s crazy, but if you set your goals, you’ll always be a hard worker because you want to make that goal.”
Hard work has always been something on which the unbeaten American has prided himself. A former football and basketball standout during his days at Tuscaloosa High School, Wilder was presented with a difficult choice when at age 19 he became a father to a baby girl born with spina bifida.
The hopes of playing college ball in either sport was no longer a reality, as he needed to get a job in order to offset the eventual mounting medical costs. That’s when boxing came into play, putting on his first pair of gloves in 2004.
Wilder proved to be a quick learner, as evidenced in his Olympic run just four years later after just 25 amateur fights. As the 2008 Summer Games wore on, Wilder became the team’s de facto leader.
Three years later, a boxing nation turns to him – along with Seth Mitchell, another former footballer-turned-unbeaten heavyweight – as its hope for future restoration in a division that has long ago been stripped of an American imprint.
Always confident in his abilities to learn and advance, Wilder embraces the role with open arms.
“Americans are looking for that next heavyweight champion so bad. I feel I can bring that excitement to the industry. Most people are looking for a big modern heavyweight. We think we can bring the same interest to the table in terms of being the next heavyweight (champion) of the world. My power matches any guy in the heavyweight division. I plan on bringing the heavyweight division back.”
One place in particular where it has been missing is on the networks that regularly showcase the sport. HBO will showcase Mitchell on December 10, marking the first time since Arreola’s loss to Tomasz Adamek nearly two years ago that an American heavyweight will appear on the network.
Wilder has played the non-televised undercard of several shows in which the main events were carried by HBO. Water cooler talk suggests that 2012 becomes the year when he finally appears in front of the camera.
“I just left Cancun and fought one of (Mexico’s) Top 10 heavyweights. Here I am on another HBO show. After that fight, we talked to members of HBO’s production company. They told me that it’s about that time. Just keep doing what you’re doing. Big things are about to happen.”
In order to get on HBO, better competition than what he’s faced thus far will be in order. If his handlers stick to the script, Wilder will receive such an upgrade – along with some very big news in about five or so fights.
“We’re going to do one more eight-round fight then move to 10 rounds where we’ll do three of those. My 24th fight will be my last 10 rounder; then the 25th fight will be a 12-rounder.
“By late 2012, that’s what I want to happen. I’m going to push that baby hard. People say stuff about this opponent, this opponent, but I’m ready for that test.”
But will he be ready for the ultimate test awaiting him down the road?
If there’s a consensus in the marketplace, it’s that the Klitschko brothers aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Wladimir has reigned as a titlist for more than five years, and lineal champion since 2009, while Vitali has barely lost a round since returning to the sport in late 2008.
These facts are not lost on Wilder, who knows why they remain so successful. He also believes he knows how to become the one to end at least one reign.
“One thing about (the Klitschkos) is that they’re mentally strong. No matter who they fight, they’re always ready. They’re holding it down and they intimidate a lot of guys. When you fight any champion, you gotta go get it. You gotta take it because they’re not gonna give it to you.
“I want to be like Mike Tyson in the 80’s. He went and got it. I’d rather get knocked out trying than standing on my feet in a 12-round fight and give a decision to them.”
Spoken like a man who is once again ready to carry the weight of a nation on his broad shoulders.
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com and an award-winning member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Contact Jake at JakeNDaBox@gmail.com.
