By Ryan Burton
It has been over 7 years since an American has held a portion of the heavyweight championship. For years fans and members of the media have anointed different prospects as the next American champion with Chris Arreola coming the closest when he unsuccessfully challenged Vitali Klitschko.
On Saturday night, Deontay Wilder (32-0 32 KOs) will get his chance when he faces WBC heavyweight champion Bermane Stiverne at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
"I honestly don't feel pressure," Wilder insists. "Even as a little boy when I was in a pressure situation I never panicked under pressure. I honestly feel like I was born to do this. I don't feel any weight on my shoulder. You are looking at a guy who had to carry the USA Olympics by his self. I don't just have to get this belt but I have to make the heavyweight division exciting again. That is my mission. I want to bring it back. It will never be back to the way it used to be but I can make it better than it is now."
Wilder said that he hopes to be an active champion. He only fought twice in 2014 but that was partially because Stiverne suffered an injury and their fight was postponed. He said that he is always in the gym and would have no issues with his workload doubling in 2015.
"I want to bring the interest back and I am going to do it to the best of my ability. I will fight wherever they want me to fight. I want to go to enemy territory. I don't want to fight one or two times a year. If it was up to me I would fight four times a year because I am always ready. You will never hear that I have to get ready because Deontay is always ready," Wilder told BoxingScene.com.
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