Wilder ends losing streak, but questions linger

In the seventh round of Kansas, former heavyweight world champion Deontay Wilder defeated the overmatched Tyrrell Herndon, returning to winning ways with a subdued comeback victory.

In the second round, Wilder dropped his fellow American, scored a second knockdown, and finished the match with two chopping right hands, prompting the referee to wave it off.

Wilder recorded his first victory since October 2022, winning three of his previous four fights, most recently Zhilei Zhang, in Saudi Arabia.

Although it gave a strong performance, Bronze Bomber was not at its best.

The old Wilder, who was once the most feared puncher in the division and perhaps the greatest one-shot finisher ever, would have likely dispatched Herndon sooner and with more fanfare.

The Charles Koch Arena in Wichita was a sparse crowd for a fighter who once shook arenas and hosted pay-per-view competitions against Tyson Fury and had little access to a major television broadcast.

The costumes with diamonds and theatrical entrances are no longer in use. Perhaps Wilder needed that in the form of a stripped-back re-entry because of this.

Herndon was floored by Wilder’s sharp counter left hook in the second round, a sign that his timing and instincts are still a danger. Wilder recently split from Malik Scott, who had recently broken up with him.

However, his signature weapon, the devastating straight right, remained silent for the majority of the first few rounds. His success was not due to his steady jab and his left hand.

“I desired to display more.” Taking my time to prepare my shot so that my left hand can do it for me. After the fight, Wilder declared, “I want to become a complete, all-round fighter.”

Herndon, 37, had lost five of his previous 28 fights. Richard Torrez Jr., a highly regarded American prospect, stopped him in two rounds in 2023.

Wilder was beginning to find the right hand more consistently by the halfway point. Herndon was still at his feet when the stoppage occurred, and even though it was a little premature, the outcome seemed certain.

It was a straightforward and composed victory, but it wasn’t particularly explosive.

Wilder has now defeated 43 opponents, many of whom have won in dramatic fashion.

Wilder hasn’t looked good since his trilogy with Briton Fury, a brutal, history-making conflict that saw him be floored five times and stopped twice, in the eyes of the day.

His reputation, confidence, and perhaps his trust in the sport were all appeared to be draining after those defeats.

In the aftermath, Wilder made unsupported accusations about betrayal from his team, including spiked water and loaded gloves, which drew criticism and alienated some fans.

In late 2023, a long-rumored fight with Anthony Joshua appeared close, but Joseph Parker of New Zealand beat Wilder in the end in Saudi Arabia. A flat, uninspired display that stifled the Joshua fight and rekindled doubts about Wilder’s future.

Then Zhang’s crushing fifth-round defeat, which many believed would be the end, came after the game.

Wilder was cast aside. He avoided attention on social media and stayed quiet.

He claims he has been working with a sports psychologist to help him regain his love for boxing and that he never intended to leave.

Wilder claims to still want to win the world title as a whole. That goal seems distant in the present. Next month, Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois will square off against one another for the undisputed title.

Nothing is impossible in heavyweight boxing, where power and name value still matter.

Wilder said, “When you’re in the heavyweight division, you’re always one fight away from a title fight,” adding that he’ll “take his time” before facing the division’s elite.

There is a lot of money on the line, he continued, but sometimes it’s not just about the money.

Joshua is up for a fight. It was once the division’s ultimate matchup, and now the division’s two former champions have nothing to lose.

Their careers, pride, and perhaps one last chance at glory may no longer be in the hands of one person.

Eddie Hearn, the promoter of Dave Allen, has been promoting a lucrative fight with former UFC champion Francis Ngannou in Africa.