LOS ANGELES (March 10, 2009) – As the boxing year charges full steam ahead, 2008 Olympic Bronze Medalist Deontay Wilder, the lone United States Boxing Medalist from the Beijing Games, is already making a statement in his first year of professional boxing. The heavyweight looked impressive in scoring a first round technical knockout victory against Shannon Gray (1-1) at the Trotter Convention Center in Columbus, Mississippi on Friday, March 6th.
The four round main event ended abruptly in the first round after Wilder landed a left hook-right hand combination that knocked Gray into the ropes. Wilder followed up and landed a right hand to score the first knockdown of the bout. Gray got back to his feet but was immediately caught with a flurry of punches. A body shot to Gray’s mid-section resulted in a second knockdown and when Gray was unable to stand, a victory for Wilder.
With the win, Wilder’s professional record increased to 2-0 with 2 KO’s . He will look to increase his win total to three in his next bout which will take place on Saturday, March 14th at the Duke Energy Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.
