DEONTAY WILDER revealed he decided against quitting boxing after a statue was built in his honour.
Wilder, 36, stepped out of the public sphere after his trilogy loss to Tyson Fury in order to process the back-to-back defeats in 2020 and 2021.
The Bronze Bomber considered quitting the sport until he was honoured with a life-size statue in his hometown of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, in May.
The American boxing star then decided to give it another go after being convinced he is a “walking, living legend” that the world needs.
Wilder told The Last Stand podcast: “What really got me back to this point [was the realisation], like, damn, the world really needs me.
“I really motivate people. Although I’ve already known [that], even more so… When I got my statue man.
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“When I got my statue, and that set all my accomplishments in stone, you’re looking at a walking, living legend.
“No matter what, my supporters or my haters, when all talk dies, that statue stay risen. You feel me?
“That statue stay there forever ’til God comes and takes it away or some type of disaster happens.
“To see so many people come [for the unveiling] and women and see men break down and show their vulnerable side – I love that.”
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Wilder is expected to return to the ring on October 15 to face Robert Helenius.
However, the 36-year-old has also recently called out Fury, Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
