Deontay Wilder next fight: 3 opponent options for ‘The Bronze Bomber's' return, including Anthony Joshua
Who will Deontay Wilder's next fight be against?
Wilder (44-4-1, 34 KOs) snapped a stretch of back-to-back defeats against Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang in June. After a brutal TKO loss to Zhang in June 2024, the Tuscaloosa, Alabama native returned over a year later to face Tyrrell Anthony Herndon on June 27. Wilder secured a TKO victory over Herndon, his first win since October 2022.
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Although it may be some time before he gets back into title contention, there are plenty of suitable opponents for his next fight. They include Anthony Joshua and Jarrell Miller.
AJ: When Wilder and Anthony Joshua were both atop the heavyweight landscape in 2018, it was among the biggest fights to make at the time. Wilder reigned as the WBC champion, while Joshua held the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO titles. An undisputed clash never materialized, as Wilder claimed Joshua had turned down a proposed offer.
Destroyer: Andy Ruiz Jr. made history when he dethroned Joshua for the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles by TKO victory in June 2019. In one of the biggest upsets in the sport, Ruiz became the first heavyweight champion of Mexican descent in history. His reign was short-lived, as he lost the titles by unanimous decision in a rematch with Joshua in December 2019.
Big Baby: Jarrell Miller had words for Wilder following his victory over Herndon. After he criticized Wilder's come-back performance, Miller vowed to 'put him in a body bag' if they were to get in the ring. The Brooklyn native is 0-1-1 in his last two fights. His last contest resulted in a draw against Ruiz in August 2024. Miller has not won a fight in over two years, since March 2023.
Deontay Wilder vs. Tyrell Anthony Herndon recap
'The Bronze Bomber' entered the contest 1-4 in his last five fights. In desperate need of a win to keep any hopes of a comeback alive, Wilder delivered. Herndon had very little to offer in a one-sided contest.
What happened: The former WBC heavyweight champion relied on his jab, using his height and reach advantage to keep the fight on the outside. Wilder scored two knockdowns in rounds two and six. It was clear that his power was unmatched, as Herndon failed to land anything to keep Wilder back.
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The result: Wilder began to sense the finish, with a worn-down Herndon moving around on weak legs. Unloading with left hooks and straight right hands on the defenseless Herndon, referee Ray Corona called a stop to the contest in the seventh round. Wilder walked away with the TKO win and his first victory in almost three years.
What's next? It's fair to say Wilder still has some left in the tank to compete at heavyweight. He eyes a possible shot at redemption against Parker or Zhang, although not as his next fight.
What makes Deontay Wilder so popular?
In Deontay Wilder's nearly 17-year professional career, he went on a streak of 32 wins, all of which didn't go the distance, before he dethroned Stiverne for the WBC title by unanimous decision in 2015. In 10 defenses of the WBC title, the former champion retained the title with nine stoppage victories and one draw.
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Here are some key accolades from 'The Bronze Bomber's' accomplished career.
Deontay Wilder record: 44-4-1 (43 knockouts)
Wilder stormed to the top of the heavyweight division by going undefeated in 42 fights during a span of eleven years. Former lineal champion Tyson Fury handed him his first defeat in February 2020, when Wilder was 34 years old.
Only three fighters have defeated the former WBC heavyweight champion. Tyson Fury (twice), Joseph Parker, and one of China's greatest heavyweights, Zhilei Zhang.
During his heavyweight title reign, 'The Bronze Bomber' has scored wins over Bermane Stiverne in a rematch, Chris Arreola, Luis Ortiz (twice), and Dominic Breazeale.
He made his professional debut at the age of 23 in 2008, winning his first contest by second-round TKO
Wilder has 49 professional fights under his belt at 39 years old.
Capturing the WBC title in 2015, Wilder became the first American heavyweight champion in over eight years, since Shannon Briggs lost the WBO title to Sultan Ibragimov in 2007.
Deontay Wilder net worth
A fighter's success is measured in the dollars and cents they stack up from a career in combat sports. Deontay Wilder's net worth is estimated to be $46 million, according to Forbes.
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