Fearing His ‘Expiration Date,’ America’s Favorite KO King Deontay Wilder Makes an Announcement

If the UD loss to Joseph Parker raised serious doubts, the brutal KO at the hands of Zhilei Zhang left many wondering if Deontay Wilder‘s time at the top had come to an end. Once the most feared puncher in the heavyweight division, the Olympian’s downward trajectory has only steepened since his punishing trilogy with Tyson Fury. The Parker and Zhang fights didn’t just dent his record; they shook the very foundation of his legacy.

Talk of retirement became louder with each setback. But Wilder, ever the fighter, isn’t done just yet. On June 27, he’ll return to the ring against Tyrrell Anthony Herndon at the Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas. It’s an opponent few would consider top-tier, leading many to believe this is a classic comeback tune-up, a warm-up before Wilder aims at bigger, more meaningful bouts. But what exactly is motivating his return? Wilder’s answer may surprise even his biggest skeptics.

Deontay Wilder breaks silence on setbacks and recovery

In a recent conversation with DAZN’s Ade Oladipo and Ariel Helwani, Wilder, speaking from a moving vehicle, opened up about the long road back. He explained that while the comeback was always part of the plan, it was delayed due to lingering injuries, especially to his shoulder, and a slew of personal issues. Wilder said he didn’t want to commit to a date until he was completely healed – not just physically, but mentally and emotionally, too. Oladipo acknowledged how refreshing it was to see Wilder in a better place, but he also posed a crucial question. With the heavyweight landscape looking drastically different from Wilder’s title-chasing years, what exactly is he after?

“Ariel asked you, why are you back? And you mentioned, you know, you want to unify, so you want to become a world champion again. The landscape has changed in boxing, right? The guys that you were chasing or wanting to fight are kind of on the back nine, if you like to use a golf reference,” Oladipo pointed out.

He gave a few examples. Following the devastating loss to Daniel Dubois last year, Anthony Joshua‘s future hangs in the balance. Tyson Fury has already announced his retirement. So, “is the aim Dubois, then is the aim Alexander Usyk, or who is the aim? Is there a fighter, or is it a belt regardless of a fighter?” asked Oladipo.

READ MORE : Surely “It’s Only A Matter Of Time” It Certain Deontay Wilder  Will Face One…

Time waits for no one: Wilder embraces the present

Wilder’s answer struck a chord. It was measured, philosophical, and grounded in realism. He wasn’t chasing ghosts or settling old scores. He simply wanted meaningful, legacy-defining fights. “I just want the best fights that’s possible you know,” he said. He acknowledged that the boxing landscape has changed. Fighters age, retire, or lose relevance. Did he indirectly comment on the uncertainty surrounding guys like Fury or AJ?

Surely “It’s Only A Matter Of Time” It Certain Deontay Wilder  Will Face One Man Before Retiring

Deontay Wilder still has one fight in particular in his mind before hanging up the gloves.

Deontay Wilder has endured a tough time as of late, having once been the long-reigning WBC heavyweight champion who made 10 defences of the belt and stopped every man that was put in front of him

That was until he came up against Tyson Fury, with the two men taking part in a memorable trilogy bout. The first contest ended in a controversial draw, before Fury won the second and third fights by stoppage to rid Wilder of his belt.

‘The Bronze Bomber’ returned with a straightforward first round knockout win over Robert Helenius, but since then he has suffered a points defeat to Joseph Parker, and most recently a stoppage loss to Zhilei Zhang last June, leaving his career in tatters.

He will attempt to get things back on track when he is set to return to action in this summer, going up against Tyrrell Herndon in Kansas, but Wilder is already eyeing up another fighter.

The American has been linked with Anthony Joshua for a number of years, while the likes of Fabio Wardley and Dillian Whyte have also called out Wilder for a fight.

It is another man that ‘The Bronze Bomber’ wants to take on though, telling DAZN Boxing that he is certain he will meet MMA star Francis Ngannou.

READ MORE : June 27 is The Battle Time As Deontay Wilder confirms Francis Ngannou fight…

“Me and Francis, that fight still comes up. It came up two more times not too long ago. We’re just trying to figure out how they want the segment to go with me and Ngannou. I’m definitely interested, he is as well. I guess it’s a matter of time.

“Time is always the matter of all things… That’s something that is going to be created and something that is looking to be done. It’s just getting everything together. People can look forward to that. Stay tuned.”

Former UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou has competed twice as a boxer, first losing a controversial points verdict to Fury after dropping him in the bout, before he was then brutally knocked out inside two rounds by Joshua in March 2024.

Legacy Reloaded : Deontay Wilder’s Return: What To Know About His Next Opponent

Deontay Wilder is returning to the ring. The 39-year-old slugger with a record of 43-4-1 with 42 KOs is set to headline a Global Combat Collective event called Legacy Reloaded.

Wilder will face Tyrrell Herndon on Friday, June 27, 2025, at the Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas.

The event will be streamed live on BLK Prime. Here’s everything you need to know about Herndon.

Experience

Over his 10-year professional career, Herndon has fought 29 bouts, accumulating 100 rounds of ring time, though mostly against lower-tier opponents.

Professional Record

Herndon has a professional boxing record of 24-5 with 15 knockouts.

Age and Background

Herndon is 37 years old and hails from San Antonio, Texas. Many of his pro fights have taken place in his home state.

Physical Traits

Herndon is 6’3”, so the 6’7″ Wilder will have a massive height advantage.

Last Fight

Herndon is on a three-fight win streak. In his last fight, he knocked off Rudy Silvas by split decision in May 2024. When he steps in the ring with Wilder, he’ll have been out of the ring for more than a year.

Notable Losses

Herndon has been a bit of a gatekeeper for upcoming talent. He was knocked out by Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. in October 2023, and he suffered an 89-second KO loss to Efe Ajagba in 2017.

This is a Dream Fight for Herndon

In a 2019 Instagram post, Herndon wrote, “Manifesting. Idols become rivals eventually…” alongside a photo with Wilder.

As a justifiably massive underdog, Herndon may rue the day he wished for this fight to go from dream to reality.

Deontay Wilder Has a Lot on the Line in this Fight

Even with Wilder’s seemingly depleted state, most would expect him to get past Herndon. The veteran is simply being placed here as an opponent who gives Wilder an opportunity to shine.

If he wins as expected, he’ll have a highlight-reel KO on his recent résumé, which could potentially facilitate a fight with Anthony Joshua—or more likely, a clash with current Professional Fighters League Super Fights MMA heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.

Deontay Wilder and Ngannou have expressed a desire to fight each other in the past, and the fight has never made more sense than it does now. Ngannou had two unsuccessful dips into the sweet science when he narrowly lost a split decision to Tyson Fury in late 2023, and he was savagely knocked out by Joshua in 2024.

Meanwhile, Wilder has endured back-to-back losses to Zhilei Zhang and Joseph Parker. If Wilder can’t just defeat Herndon—but dominate—few will believe he has a chance to beat Ngannou, let alone rise in the ranks to fight for another championship.

Herndon may as well be the Notorious B.I.G. in the classic song “What’s Beef?” He’ll have “nothing to lose tattooed around his wounds, everything to gain, embedded in his brain.”

Any success he enjoys against Wilder will be icing on the proverbial cake. Be on the lookout for more information on the card as we get closer to the event.

After almost over a year off Tyrell Herndon Challenged Former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder to return to the ring in June

After almost over a year off, former WBC Heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder will be returning to the ring.

Wilder (43-4-1, 42 KO’s), a Tuscaloosa native and the 2008 Olympic bronze medalist, will return against Tyrell Herndon in a 10-round bout at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas. The fight will take place on June 27 and will be streamed on BLK Prime.

It will be his first fight since a June 1, 2024 loss to Zhilei Zhang (27-2-1, 22 KOs) in the fifth round when Zhang got Wilder to spin around and Zhang’s right hand sent Wilder to the mat.

Herndon (24-5, 15 KO’s) stands at 6-foot-3 and has weighed in around 235 pounds, which should help Wilder who has weighed in around 214 pounds for his last fight. Herndon will also be returning after considerable layoff, his last fight was a May 2024 six-round split decision win over Rudy Silvas

READ MORE : After loses in last five fighys, Deontay Wilder’s trainer reveals true thoughts on..

Deontay Wilder has suffered all four of his losses and the draw since 2018, starting with the draw to Tyson Fury. Wilder was 40-0 going into the fight. Over his last five fights, Wilder is 1-4 and has been knocked out three times.

Wilder is the former heavyweight champion using a powerful righthand to climb the ranks, first taking the belt in 2015. He would make 10 defenses of the belt before falling to Fury in their second bout.

Wilder, 39, has contemplated retirement after his last few fights and ahead of a 2022 fight with Robert Helenius he said he would fight until he was 40, which he will turn this October. Wilder has said that a statue unveiling in his hometown back in 2022 helped convince him to return for his fans.

After loses in last five fighys, Deontay Wilder’s trainer reveals true thoughts on fighting in Africa on boxing return

Deontay Wilder could be willing to fight Francis Ngannou in Africa if the conditions are right, according to his trainer Malik Scott. The 39-year-old is targeting a return to the ring after a nine-month absence and rumours of a fight against ex-UFC star Ngannou continue to swirl. Talks have taken place over the past months to discuss a potential mixed-rules fight involving boxing and MMA techniques, with both fighters known to pack a powerful punch. It would prove to be a hugely popular encounter amongst fans and therefore appealing to those with a commercial interest. When asked about his interest in fighting to Africa, Scott revealed that Wilder has always held a desire to fight there – suggesting the bout has a realistic chance of materialising

“Deontay always wanted to fight in Africa anyway. So I’m sure he’s very excited about it. If there’s something that he’s going to entertain, this is something he’s always wanted to do anyway,” Scott told SpaceportSweden.com. “There’s so many times he was supposed to go over there just to visit and do a couple events for people that wanted him to come over. So I’m sure if everything is right he definitely wouldn’t mind going over there.”

The American has lost four of his last five fights, including his initial WBA heavyweight title fight against Tyson Fury and the subsquent rematch. He was also beaten on his last appearance in the ring, which came against Zhilei Zhang back in June 2024.

READ MORE : After back-to-back losses Deontay Wilder Makes Final Decision On Retirement…

Ngannou, meanwhile, learned a harsh lesson in his two fights against Fury and Anthony Joshua after being knocked down early on before conceding defeat – leaving him with a 0-2 record. But the Cameroonian, fighting on his native turf in Africa, would have another motivating to climb back into the ring – especially if MMA rules are allowed.

“We know Ngannou wants to do it. [Saudi adviser] Turki [Al-Sheikh] is saying this thing can happen. Deontay is going to fight again, so it’s all just a win,” he added.

“Boxing fans can be very fickle sometimes. And not just the fans, just the way things go. I don’t know when the last time Francis was in the ring. So there’s just no telling.

“I know he wants the Wilder fight, he always speaks about it. But we just have to see. Him and Deontay will do big numbers, especially in Africa.”