Deontay Wilder recalls hardest punch in career against Johann Duhaupas

One of the astir celebrated heavyweight fighters successful past has recalled moments that inactive haunt him. Deontay Wilder, known arsenic the “Bronze Bomber,” spoke astir his 2nd defence of the WBC belt, and singled retired 1 hostile who peculiarly impressed him.

“I retrieve the feeling successful the ringing against Johann Duhaupas, a Frenchman,” Wilder recalled to Vegas Insider. “Every clip helium deed maine with a consecutive punch, I was like, ‘Oh my God, however helium punches. It’s similar he’s got a ceramic successful his glove.’ He was the lone combatant who made maine truly deliberation astir it. Every punch hurt, I retrieve that to this day.”

Although the American yet won by stoppage successful the 11th round, Duhaupas near a beardown impression. At that point, the Frenchman had ne'er been stopped before, and aboriginal fought Alexander Povetkin, Jarrell Miller and Robert Helenius.

Francis Ngannou

Towards the extremity of 2025, it looked similar Wilder mightiness measurement into the ringing against erstwhile UFC champion Francis Ngannou, but negotiations fell done erstwhile the Cameroonian refused to judge fiscal terms. Instead, determination is increasing speech that his adjacent situation could beryllium against three-time satellite champion Oleksandr Usyk. If that happens, Wilder would adhd different elite sanction to his awesome database of opponents, alongside Tyson Fury and Zhilei Zhang.

Unlike galore punchers, Usyk is not a classical “destroyer”, but a boxer with intelligent question and a bully consciousness of rhythm. Wilder, connected the different hand, has stood against fighters whose punches animate fear. However, the American singles retired Duhaupas arsenic the 1 who deed him the astir and near the strongest content connected him.

Interestingly, Usyk, though Deontay is present successful his 40s, has expressed his tendency for the fight. His absorption squad is already mentioning April oregon May arsenic a imaginable date. If the combat happens, Wilder volition erstwhile again person the accidental to beryllium that, careless of his age, helium inactive belongs astatine the apical of the heavyweight division.

Wilder's vigor and character, combined with his respect for his opponents, marque him unsocial successful the satellite of boxing. It seems that fans tin expect different breathtaking communicative successful the ring.