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Charismatic heavyweight Deontay Wilder will be fighting to fulfil a promise he made to his daughter when he challenges for the heavyweight world title this weekend.
The 29-year-old knockout king takes on the reigning WBC champion Bermane Stiverne at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, live and exclusive on BoxNation, as he chases boxing’s most illustrious prize.
Wilder’s hunt for sports most coveted accolade, however, is being fuelled by a promise the 6ft 7inch star made to his nine-year-old daughter Naieya, who was born with spina bifida but proved doctors wrong by being able to walk.
“We inspire each other every day. When she was one year old I promised her that I would become world champion. And I know it’s going to be a reality. And I will. She has been through so much in her nine years of living. But she’s good now,” said Wilder.
“She knows what’s going on and a lot of people say that she’s my number one fan and she is my ultimate number one fan.
“She motivates me to keep going because I know that as a nine‐year‐old girl and having gone through everything – the needles and the surgeries – if she can go through that I can go through the trials and tribulations of becoming world champion,” he said.
Though Wilder is eager to hear his name announced as the new champion, his proudest moment will be when he can place the belt on his daughter’s lap.
“Throughout my life I have never met a Wilder that wasn’t tough. We are all strong. I’ve got a big family and we don’t know what it’s like to be given anything,” Wilder said.
“I’m going to be a proud father when I come back and show her what I’ve done and I can’t let her down. It’s like making God a promise. She’s counting on me and I never let my children down.
“If I said I was going to do something or be somewhere at a certain time, no matter how busy my schedule got I did it for them. It’s a love for your children and I love them dearly. It’s just something that I promised my daughter a long time ago and it’s got to be fulfilled,” he said.
‘The Bronze Bomber’, though, will have to get past the fearsome champion Stiverne if he is to realise his dream of becoming a world champion.
The Haitian-born hitter, who has 21 knockouts from his 24 wins, is making the first defence of his title which he won in May by stopping the tough Chris Arreola in six rounds.
With Wilder’s stunning knockout record, having laid out all of his 32 opponents, the Tuscaloosa hitman believes that it could be a short night’s work once again.
“The guy has some credible knockouts on his resume. But like he said before, on January 17th, don’t blink. He said it perfectly, so we’ll find out,” said Wilder
“I am looking forward to answering a lot of questions about me. Some will be answered and some not. We will see. January 17, don’t blink. There is no need for me to stick around for overtime but if the fight needs to go past twelve rounds, bring it on.
“We can go back to fifteen [rounds] if you want to do it. There are no concerns and no worries in my mind, and I promise you, if it goes past four then so be it and the people get their monies worth. If it goes less than four, so be it. But I train for a great fight,” said Wilder.
Heavyweight world champion Bermane Stiverne has vowed to make Deontay Wilder a forgotten man by defeating the knockout king this weekend.
The pair clash at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in what is one of the most highly-anticipated heavyweight bouts in years, with Haitian hitman Stiverne promising to send the 29-year-old Wilder into the wilderness.
The bout, live and exclusive on BoxNation, is predicted to be the American’s toughest test to date with Stiverne in no doubts that he will retain his WBC belt and put an end to the hype surrounding the charismatic Wilder.
“It’s going to be a real fight, a fight like you’ve never seen before. I’m no cab driver, I’m no one-hit wonder, this is the real deal. This belt here isn’t going anywhere. This green belt is staying right here in this green hotel,” said Stiverne.
“Everyone who has supported me, you won’t be disappointed. I’ve seen plenty of guys like Wilder, even guys who talk more than him.
“This is a real fight and this belt is staying right here in my home town. You’re going to get hurt, the worst thing you did was have me take you seriously, and I’m taking you seriously.
“This is going to be a terrific fight. After this fight you will never ever hear about Deontay Wilder,” he said.
The 36-year-old, who will make the first defence of his world title after winning the belt vacated by the retired Vitali Klitschko, in a sixth round stoppage of Mexican-American Chris Arreola last May, says the fight will not go the distance.
“It’s going to be a short night. It’s going to be painful – really painful. And I will send him home with no belt. If he has not gone past four rounds, that is not my business ‐ that is his business,” said Stiverne.
“All I have to say is that after Saturday, all the people that had questions about this man will get the answers – more than the answers. I don’t care if he went twenty‐four rounds or whatever it is. It doesn’t matter. All I am saying is I can’t wait,” he said.
The brash and exciting Wilder, who has put to sleep all of his 32 opponents, is in confident mood and has called on those questioning his credentials not to go back on their word should he become the first American heavyweight champion since Shannon Briggs.
“Many people wrote me off early in my career. People say I’m not supposed to be here. People still write me off and I thank them for that. Because when they write me off I still go to another level and push forward,” said Wilder.
“When I do the unexpected, I don’t want you all to degrade this man, Stiverne. I don’t want anyone to make excuses for my victory. Stick by your word. Let this be a test for me and watch me pass my test. I guarantee I will do it,” he said.
It’s been nearly eight years since Briggs held his WBO title, since then the American heavyweight scene has yearned for a fighter to take on the mantle of past greats, with the unbeaten Wilder believing he is ready to take on that challenge.
“You are all in for a treat. I’ve never been so ready to whoop a man. There’s been a lot of talk, a lot of stuff on social media. But through all that, it’s been real. I don’t play games. It doesn’t get any realer than this. We risk our lives every time in that ring,” Wilder said.
“If you only knew the whooping I’m going to put on this boy, you all want the first American champ, but this is for me. I am not scared to walk with my head held high because I am ready for any test.
“It’s my time to make history and becoming the first American heavyweight champion in a very long time. This is where I come in and give them their heavyweight world champion. I have arrived and I am here to stay for a very long time,” he said.
Stiverne vs Wilder is live on BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD, Virgin 546, TalkTalk 525) this Saturday night. Visit boxnation.com to subscribe.
