Deontay Wilder Next Fight: ‘The Bronze Bomber’ will only get one more big bout

Deontay Wilder was battling to save his illustrious career. The former WBC heavyweight champion of the world was coming off back-to-back losses as he faced soft-touch Tyrrell Herndon in June. Wilder did what was necessary, scoring the TKO in round seven. The display left a lot to be desired but, when it is your first win in three years, you will take what you can get.

The victory put the ailing Olympic bronze medalist back on the radar for some of the world's top heavies. Who could Wilder's next outing come against? Read on to hear the contenders.

The most dominant champions are often the ones who suffer the steepest declines. Regard the most commonly-cited Wilder analogue, Mike Tyson. The ‘Iron’ one went from sport-bestriding destructor to humbled shadow, and that’s before Jake Paul desecrated his remains.

Wilder is the longest-reigning heavyweight champion since Wladimir Klitschko and 10th on the all-time list. The Olympian racked up 10 title defences, winning nine by knockout. Wilder took out reigning champions like Bermane Stiverne, top contenders like Luis Ortiz Jr and scored a draw with Tyson Fury. 

But Wilder’s career trajectory can be pinpointed as having irrevocably changed in the 12th round of his first fight with Fury. The then-champ heavily dropped ‘The Gypsy King’ in the final session, looking for all the world like the victor. But somehow, in the most indelible modern boxing tableau, Fury rose from the mat and persevered to the finish.

That was a true sliding doors moment for both men’s careers. Fury and Wilder would fight twice more, with the Brit winning both bouts by stoppage. The third, and best, fight between the two saw ‘The Gypsy King’ rise from the canvas twice more to finish Wilder. At the time it looked like the American had simply lost a classic war. But, given what we know now, he lost far more.

It would be a year and six days before Wilder walked into a boxing ring again. All looked well on that occasion, as Robert Helenius crumbled in a single round. However, that would be Wilder’s last win for three years.

‘The Bronze Bomber’ was expertly diffused by Joseph Parker in December 2023. The New Zealander outpointed his bigger foe, taking advantage of a Wilder who looked reluctant to pull the trigger. It was a huge upset and a jaw-dropping display.

When Wilder went looking to right the ship, he did so against a man in a similar boat. Fellow Olympian Zhilei Zhang was also coming off a points loss to Parker when the pair met in June 2024. But Wilder’s plan unravelled in brutal fashion as Zhang destroyed him in five rounds. This wasn’t simply a case of going back to square one. This defeat planted Wilder at square zero.

Despite Anthony Joshua, himself a recent knockout victim at the hands of Daniel Dubois, trying to goad him into a fight, Wilder instead took two steps back to go forward one stride.

Herndon was no world beater, entering the fight at 24-5. Anyone decent on his record had laid him flat. Richard Torrez Jr, an Olympic medalist like Wilder, did it in two rounds. Heavyweight prospect Efe Ajagba knocked Herndon out in the first while Brandon Glanton, who went on to face Chris Billam-Smith down at cruiserweight, finished the American in three.

But Wilder, the devastating puncher with the highest knockout ratio of any heavyweight champion in history, took seven rounds to wear Herndon down. There are caveats of course. The likes of Torrez and Ajagba were not coming off consecutive defeats. They did not have painful wars with Fury and Ortiz behind them. Zhang had not scrambled them in their most recent outing. Wilder is a fighter with miles on the clock.

But it is still a concern that Wilder looked unable to detonate against an opponent that really put the target in "moving target". Peak Deontay, even when defending the championship of the world, was never a balletic and graceful pugilist. But he was not shy about administering the blunt force trauma that won him the belt and saw him keep it for years on end.

Against Herndon, Wilder was messy. That is forgivable after a lay-off that stretched to a shade over a year. But the worrying part was how tentative Wilder was. If you are wary of Fury or Zhang's shots, you're smart. If you're worried what Tyrrell Herndon is throwing back at you, then you are in trouble.

But a win is a win and, in boxing, a name will always have currency. The casual fan did not watch him stumble to a tepid TKO win against Herndon. Many will still know him best from the highlight-reel KOs and a trilogy with Fury that is arguably the modern analogue to Bowe-Holyfield.

It is because of this cache that Wilder will get one more opportunity to take a big fight. A win puts him back at the table. What he does with that seat will be fascinating.

Perhaps Wilder and his team will take another light workout. A journeyman designed to add a clip to the 'Bronze Bomber' sizzle reel without having to dig out fights from the 2010s. Not the worst strategy, though I would caution that at the age of 39 he will have to be quick about it.

Wilder may just skip over all that. Six rounds and change in the bank was a good boon for his fitness. Moreso than clubbing Herndon in a round or two would have been. With some quality ring time under his belt, we might see the former world king go straight into a headline fight.

The options are not as plentiful as you might think. Usyk has Daniel Dubois to contend with and without a recent signature victory, there is no chance Wilder fights the winner. Fury is circling that fight, wanting his own chance at redemption. 'The Gypsy King' probably would entertain a fourth go with Wilder, given he gave the less-worthy Derek Chisora another go. But it would serve no one, least of all the paying public.

Chisora is a good shout. That fight would fill Manchester Arena or the O2 in London easily. Like Mike Tyson's two bouts in the UK in 2000, Wilder could benefit from feeling wanted. The novelty factor cannot be discounted. Even casuals would relish a chance to say they've seen a boxing legend. Chisora is on a fine run but he is arguably closer to the end than Wilder. A knockout of the world-ranked 'War' would speak volumes.

That would also enhance Wilder's image ahead of the likeliest fight; a long-awaited clash with Joshua. Two Olympians who are both knockout artists. Despite 'AJ' turning pro five years later than Wilder, their primes and declines have run parallel. Between them, they held every world heavyweight title belt from April 2016 to June 2019.

We will sadly never know how an undisputed championship showdown between Wilder and Joshua would have looked back then. A time when they ruled the sport between them, Olympic medals and world belts in tow. In many ways, they ushered in the current heavyweight era. Fury might have finally slain the dragon that was long-reigning boss Wladimir Klitschko. But when 'The Gypsy King' temporarily vacated his throne, it was Joshua and Wilder who made sure the excitement and momentum was not lost.

Joshua was the first to lose, dropping the WBA, WBO and IBF belts to Andy Ruiz Jr. in 2019. The Watford star won them back by year's end but Wilder's WBC strap ended up around Fury's waist in early 2020. Neither has held a version of the world championship since 2021, when AJ relinquished his unified title to Usyk. Both men have now lost four fights each. The parallel career course continues.

There are other avenues for Wilder of course. But if he fights prospects like Moses Itauma or contenders like Agit Kabayel, Wilder risks becoming a name on a record and nothing more. Chisora could beat him, but Wilder would likely come in as the favourite. Joshua probably would beat him, but not before a huge, defining event at a UK stadium.

Wilder will be aware he is not long for the professional boxing world. Why not leave on top? And if he lands one of those old 'Bronze Bomber' shell-attacks? Well who knows...

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