The future of Deontay Wilder’s boxing career is in question after back-to-back losses, defeats in four of his last five fights, and his fiancée Telli Swift filing for a restraining order against him.
However, if the 38-year-old former champion is interested in continuing his career, he appears to still have a realistic path to another world title.
The title shot wouldn’t come in the heavyweight division. Instead, Wilder would compete as a bridgerweight, aka a super cruiserweight. The division is only recognized by the WBC and WBA, and that began in 2020 and 2023, respectively.
The weight class was designed for tweeners between cruiserweight and heavyweight fighters. The weight range is between 200 and 224 pounds, seemingly perfect for Wilder, considering he has consistently weighed in within those limits most of his 48-fight career.
The current WBC bridgerweight champion is the UK’s Lawrence Okolie.
Wilder seemingly had an opportunity to challenge the Hackney, London native immediately after his loss to Zhilei Zhang in June if he had been willing to commit quickly. Understandably, Wilder’s hesitancy or reluctance to move in that direction could be due to the brutal nature of the fifth-round TKO loss to Zhang, his flirtations with retirement, and the restraining order from Swift.
At this point, we don’t know if Wilder is even willing to fight again. He has gone radio silent on social media since the loss to Zhang and the legal issues.
Meanwhile, Okolie is set to take on the No. 1 contender for his title, Kevin Lerena. I confirmed that with WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman via text. I asked him if there was any chance Wilder could face Okolie, and he said, “I don’t even know if Wilder will be back in boxing.”
There is no concrete date for the Okolie-Lerena fight, but you’d expect it to happen before the end of 2024.
It might have been ideal for Okolie to face Wilder on the undercard of the Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel DuBois fight at Wembley Stadium for the latter’s newly awarded IBF heavyweight title.
Wilder has a big name globally, and Okolie is beloved in the UK.
As it is, Okolie shouldn’t be a difficult opponent for Wilder to secure–even if he has to wait. Wilder matching up with the winner of the Okolie-Lerena fight is seemingly a dream scenario for DAZN, as it would go a long way toward putting over a division that only hardcore boxing fans are even aware exists.
If Wilder retires, he will end his career as one of the elite heavyweights of his era. His record of 43 wins, four losses, and one draw with 42 victories by KO is legendary.
He has nothing left to prove in the ring, but the lure of another payday and a world title in a second division–something fighters who began their careers at heavyweight–rarely get to achieve might be tempting.
Stay tuned.
