Alabama’s Deontay Wilder: from IHOP waiter to heavyweight champion of the world

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January 18, 2015

Introducing the NEW Heavyweight champion of the world, Deontay "The Bronze Bomber" Wilder!!! pic.twitter.com/cV0T5MhWks

— Deontay Wilder (@BronzeBomber) January 18, 2015

LAS VEGAS — He hasn’t faced any real competition. His jaw hasn’t been tested. He hasn’t had to go the distance. All of the criticisms of undefeated heavyweight brawler and Tuscaloosa, Alabama native Deyontay Wilder were answered Saturday night as the Bronze Bomber captured the WBC heavyweight title from Bermane Stiverne by unanimous decision.

The judges scored the fight 118-109, 119-108, and 120-107, making Wilder the first American to hold the world heavyweight crown since 2006.

The 29-year-old Wilder, standing 6-foot-7 and weighing in at 215 pounds, had knocked out every opponent he’d faced in four rounds or less prior to squaring off against the 6-foot-2, 239 pound Stiverne.

The fight was never in question, with Wilder controlling the action throughout and Stiverne simply not throwing enough punches to compete during much of the bout. Stiverne had a particularly strong 6th, and came on strong again in the last few rounds, but Wilder was too far ahead on the scorecard by then for it to matter.

The 36-year-old Stiverne fell to 24-2-1. Wilder improved to 33-0.

“Deontay Wilder has come a long way from the days when he was a waiter at IHOP making around $70 a day in tips and then $400 a week working in a Red Lobster kitchen, having been forced to drop out of school to earn money to take care of his ill daughter,” said ESPN boxing analyst Dan Rafael. “Now his daughter is doing well, and Wilder is the proud owner of a world heavyweight title courtesy of a superb performance in a one-sided decision victory against Bermane Stiverne on Saturday night before 8,454 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.”

Boxing enthusiasts are optimistic that Wilder’s victory will bring a renewed interest in the sport, which has lost some of its allure in recent years without a name brand heavyweight champ and with the rise of UFC.

“I answered a lot of questions tonight,” Wilder proclaimed. “We knew we could go 12 rounds, we knew we could take a punch. All the hard work is done in camp. Did I look like I had fun? I really did… I want to bring excitement to the heavyweight division. I want to fight four times a year. I’m ready whenever.”