Deontay Leshun Wilder is an American professional boxer and former WBC heavyweight world champion, renowned for his extraordinary knockout power. Born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to Deborah Wilder and Gary Wilder, Wilder stands 2.01 meters tall and competed at approximately 96 kilograms during his prime. He initially pursued a career in basketball before transitioning to boxing in October 2005.

While studying at Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa, Wilder made the life-changing decision to leave school and dedicate himself to boxing. His motivation was deeply personal: his first daughter, Naieya Wilder, was born with spina bifida, a serious spinal condition. To cover her medical expenses, Wilder abandoned basketball and committed fully to professional boxing. Thanks to his success, he was later able to fund her treatment, which proved successful, and she recovered fully.

Wilder began his amateur boxing career at the Skyy Boxing Gym in Northport, Alabama, training under Jay Deas. His rapid rise was remarkable. In 2007, he won the National Golden Gloves and became the United States amateur champion at 91 kilograms. The following year, he represented the United States at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, where he won a bronze medal — earning him the enduring nickname *“The Bronze Bomber.”* He also refers to his training team and supporters as the *“Bomb Squad.”*

Turning professional shortly after the Olympics, Wilder’s career progressed swiftly. In January 2015, he defeated Haitian-Canadian champion Bermane Stiverne by unanimous decision to claim the WBC heavyweight world title. This victory marked the beginning of one of the most dominant title reigns in modern heavyweight boxing.

Wilder successfully defended his WBC title against a series of challengers, including Eric Molina, Johann Duhaupas, Artur Szpilka, Chris Arreola, and Gerald Washington. On November 4, 2017, he faced Stiverne again in New York and knocked him out, marking the only time Stiverne was stopped by knockout in his career.

He continued his reign by defeating Luis Ortiz on March 3, 2018, drawing with Tyson Fury on December 2, 2018, and knocking out Dominic Breazeale on May 18, 2019. On November 24, 2019, Wilder knocked out Ortiz again in the seventh round at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, securing his tenth successful title defense. With this achievement, he equaled the heavyweight title defense record of Muhammad Ali and surpassed the records of Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, and Joe Frazier.

Wilder’s undefeated streak ended on February 23, 2020, when he lost his WBC title to Tyson Fury by seventh-round technical knockout. This defeat marked the first loss of his professional career and ended a 42-fight unbeaten run. He faced Fury again on October 9, 2021, in Las Vegas, losing by 11th-round knockout and definitively closing their historic rivalry.

Following that bout, Wilder’s professional record stood at 42 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses across 45 fights. Notably, 41 of his victories came by knockout, underscoring his reputation as one of the hardest-hitting heavyweights in boxing history.

In his personal life, Wilder has been married and engaged multiple times. He shares his daughter Naieya with Helen Duncan. He married Jessica Scales in 2009, divorcing in 2017; they have two children, Dereon Wilder and Deontay Wilder Jr.. Since 2015, Wilder has been in a relationship with Telli Swift, with whom he has a daughter, Ava Wilder.

Deontay Wilder remains a defining figure of 21st-century heavyweight boxing — a champion whose career combined personal sacrifice, Olympic achievement, and unprecedented knockout power.

Source: Biyografiler.com