Undefeated heavyweight contender, Deontay Wilder, has amassed an impressive 31-0 with 31 KO?s record and has positioned himself as a mandatory challenger for the winner of the upcoming May 10th WBC heavyweight title fight between Chris Arreola & Bermane Stiverne. Many wonder if Wilder is ready for his shot, but after dispatching what most people felt would be the toughest test of his career in just one round, he might be more ready than people think.
During the 211th edition of ?On The Ropes? I had a chance to speak with Deontay and discuss with him his most recent victory in the ring and where he expects to go following the win. Wilder also give his thoughts on the upcoming Arreola vs. Stiverne fight, in which he is set to meet the winner. Additionally Wilder broke down the two highly anticipated fights, Pacquiao-Bradley & Mayweather Jr-Maidana, and also talked about what his dream fight would be. Here is what Deontay Wilder had to say
Discussing his recent 1st round knockout over Malik Scott and dealing with critics
Deontay Wilder: I feel great, I felt great in the fight. I was happy with the performance that I displayed, even thought it wasn?t much of me to show. You may have some salty fans, they may say my man dove, took a dive. You can?t explain the unexplained, it?s just like magic.
You can?t explain how it happened so you have to make up an excuse somewhere. It?s true power and I tell people all the time, do me a favor and sign a waiver and let me hit you. I will show you how it feels, then you make your judgment off of that.
On his future, and when he expects to return to the ring
Wilder: We?re gonna see what lies at hand after the May 10th fight. We?re gonna see how long it?s gonna take. We were in talks about maybe having another outing. I don?t like to sit out too long; I?m a fighter that likes to continuously fight over and over again, so sitting out won?t do me any good.
We?ll see how it goes, once we know something everybody else will know. I?m looking forward to claiming those belts and bringing them back to America where they once were and where they belong. I?m looking forward to it.
Thoughts on Arreola vs. Stiverne 2, and who he would prefer to fight between them
Wilder: That?s one of the biggest questions, I gotta stick with what I?ve been saying all along, it really doesn?t matter who I fight, I really don?t care. I feel both of those guys? styles are tailor made for mine. I don?t see neither one having nothing for me. I can?t wait for them to fight, I will be there front row and center, wherever it?s gonna be.
I?ll put a little pressure on whoever really wants to fight, let them know, this is what you got next baby. It doesn?t matter, they can tag team me if they want to. I can?t wait for this fight for one particular reason, either or would be a test for me, here goes another test. Before I fight, maybe in the press I?m gonna let them know that I don?t wanna hear shit after this fight!
If I knock him out in the first round, under 90 seconds, lets say this one goes 36 seconds, I don?t wanna hear nothing from nobody. I want them to grasp on to me, I want them to crown me, I want them to follow me and realize that I am the next big thing here. I have arrived, this is my time, this is my season. I want people to know that I am the real deal, there?s nothing fake about me.
His views on Bradley vs. Pacquiao 2
Wilder: You know, over and over again we?ve seen Timothy Bradley definitely have heart, especially when he fought Provodnikov, he definitely turned into warrior mode. He said he fought with a concussion; he took a lot of punches. I love Timothy Bradley, a spiritual man definitely recognizes another spiritual man because he is spiritual and talks a lot about god, as well as I. You can tell he?s real, I like him for that simple fact.
I did feel that when he fought Pacquiao ? and a lot of other people will agree with me ? I definitely felt like Pacquiao won that first fight. This fight, hopefully it will be a better fight. We?ll see who wins, but Pacquiao looked good when he fought Rios, he looked damn good if I might say.
It?s all gonna depend on what fighter brings what to the fight. You always have a good day, you always have a bad night, it?s always gonna depend on those two guys, who?s gonna be the best man of the night. I wish them both well.
Thoughts on Mayweather vs. Maidana
Wilder: I think this is an interesting fight, I like both fighters. It?s gonna be great, I?m gonna be up in the building for that fight personally. I love Floyd, he?s a defense specialist. It?s crazy how you can be man on top of the world as far as boxing, and fought the best of the best, that just lets you know that people are never satisfied with what you do.
Here is a man who has fought the best of the best ? and forget the Pacquiao vs. Mayweather fight, a lot of people wanna hold that one little thing against him and say ?Oh he?s not the best because he ain?t fought this guy.? A lot of people have criticized him, he?s done a lot of things for charity and that never gets out. They always wanna talk about the bad that he does and not the good.
You just gotta give it to him, he?s the best in our time, and that?s just it. When he fought Canelo ? and I think Canelo is an awesome fighter too, I think Canelo is better than Maidana, tough wise and skill wise, and Floyd played around with him. I?m just gonna imagine what he?s gonna do with Maidana.
Not only is this a fight, but I think it?s a totally different fight for Floyd because it got a little bit more meaning on it because I think he?s looking for revenge for the Broner fight. When you?re looking for revenge, you?re gonna put a little more effort. I think he?s gonna come and try to punish him for a couple of rounds and I?m looking for him to try to knock him out. He wants to punish him, he wants to make a statement with this one, that?s for sure. I got Floyd for this fight all the way.
If he could face one fighter from any era, who would it be?
Wilder: I wouldn?t mind fighting Joe Louis, he was my all time favorite fighter back in day. It would be an honor to get in the ring with that man and fight him, for the simple reason that he was a champion. Also, he?s from Alabama as well.
A lot of people don?t know he?s from Alabama ? they relate him to Detroit because he based his career off there, as well as Evander Holyfield, he?s from Alabama, a lot of people don?t know, they say Atlanta.
Joe Louis, I contribute my name to him as well. He?s ?The Brown Bomber? and I?m ?The Bronze Bomber? the bronze of course is from the Olympics, and the bomber is a tribute to Joe Louis. I would love to get in the ring with him.
