DEONTAY WILDER claims to be so powerful he keeps breaking his own hand – and is only just entering his peak aged 34.
The WBC heavyweight king puts his incredible longevity down to smart training as a late bloomer in the sport having made his pro debut at 23.
Deontay Wilder claims to have broken his hand and arm due to his ‘tremendous power’Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Wilder says he has injured all of his coaches and once left head trainer Jay Deas needing a hernia operation after taking his power on the body belt.
But entering his 10th world title defence, on Saturday against Luis Ortiz, the heavy-hitter reveals his only career injuries are self-inflicted.
Wilder told SunSport: “I haven’t taken too much damage to have to dwell on it. The only damage I’ve done is on myself.
“I have such tremendous power I’m always breaking my own hand or my arm, tearing my bicep, but that’s nothing.
“Other than that, it’s just amazing to be where I am at my age, to be at the top and compete like this, I’m just a different kind of human being when it comes to certain things.
“That’s what makes me so unique to others.”
The heavy-hitting WBC champion claims to have injured all of his coachesCredit: Ryan Hafey/ Premier Boxing Champions
Wilder is known for his devastating power in the ringCredit: Ryan Hafey/ Premier Boxing Champions
Wilder only picked up the gloves at 20-years-old, in a bid to make money for his daughter Naieya, who suffered from spina bifida at birth.
Within three years the Alabama puncher medalled at the 2008 Olympics, and went on a run of 32 straight KO’s until he outpointed Bermane Stiverne in 2015 for the WBC belt.
The Bronze Bomber – who scoffs at the fictional pound-for-pound rankings – is now following Floyd Mayweather’s mantra of training smarter, not harder, in the final stretch of his career.
Wilder explained: “I’m just know starting my prime – that’s the scary thing about it. I’ve not been in this sport long, I turned pro right after the 2008 Olympics in the November.
“When you get older and you understand what’s going on with the body and how to recover and take care of it the proper way you become smarter when you get older.
“When you’re young it’s go go go, even when your body is hurting you still gonna go and feel the same pain in the ring but you train to get through it and see what it feels like.
The Bronze Bomber rematches Luis Ortiz in his next heavyweight title defenceCredit: Ryan Hafey/ Premier Boxing Champions
Trainer Jay Deas, right, had to have a hernia operation after a punch from Wilder in trainingCredit: Ryan Hafey/ Premier Boxing Champions
“When you get older your body hurts and sometimes you need one or two days off, the body has to rest.
“If you understand the body you know if you continue to press forward then the body will take longer to recover.”
Wilder is the third longest reigning active champion, but failed to agree an undisputed title bout with Anthony Joshua for almost two years, before he turned his attention to AJ’s British rival Fury.
But the Watford ace was stunned at Madison Square Garden by 19st underdog Andy Ruiz Jr last June, after Fury was held to a draw against the American hitter in December 2018.
Now The Bronze Bomber wants to set up an undisputed showdown with his PBC promotional colleague after scheduled re-runs with Ortiz and the Gypsy King.
But Wilder – who has 40 KO’s in his 41 wins – insists being the most feared puncher on the planet is more rewarding than the undisputed or fictional pound-for-pound crown.
The American champion is set to rematch Tyson Fury in 2020Credit: Ryan Hafey/ Premier Boxing Champions
He said: “Man, I’m already the Baddest Man on The Planet. I don’t believe in ‘Pound For Pound’.
“Becoming undisputed will make a huge statement, but when I think about all that it is huge, but it just confirms what we already know, that I’m the Baddest Man on The Planet.
“Nobody has the highlight-reel like mine, putting motherf***ers on the canvas, every single time they fight me.
“Forget heavyweight, what other boxer puts you on the edge of your seat like me?
“You can’t go to the bathroom, you can’t go get that last slice of pizza, you in the crowd and don’t know when it’s coming but you always see a knockout.
“Nobody does that but Deontay Wilder, what other highlight-reel you know that you can have crazy dramatic knockouts like Deontay Wilder gives you? Nobody, nobody.
“Winning the undisputed titles just gives me confirmation. It’s confirmation of what I’ve been telling the world – I’m the Baddest Man on The Planet.”
Wilder claims he does not care about the fictional pound-for-pound rankingsCredit: Ryan Hafey/ Premier Boxing Champions
The Alabama puncher has 40 KO’s in his 41 wins as a professionalCredit: Getty – Contributor
Wilder KO’d Dominic Breazeale in just a round in his last fightCredit: AP:Associated Press
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
