Former unified world heavyweight champion, British boxer Anthony Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs), recently told the media that former WBC titleholder Deontay Wilder (43-4-1, 42 KOs) is still a dangerous fighter and it’s too soon for him to retire.
Joshua said, “Wilder is still a dangerous fighter; he can still achieve a lot. But if he takes significant blows outside the ring, his boxing career could come to an end. When you start considering other people’s opinions, you begin to doubt your instincts. I don’t think it’s time for Wilder to retire yet. I hope he doesn’t listen to others and give up on boxing because now everyone seems to think it’s time for him to hang up his gloves.”
The 38-year-old Wilder has lost four of his last five contests, including two TKO/KO losses to Tyson Fury, a unanimous decision defeat against Joseph Parker, and most recently, a fifth-round TKO at the hands of Zhang Zhilei earlier this month. In his last two outings, Wilder appears to have lost his killer instinct, lacking the explosiveness and speed that were once his trademarks. With his already limited technical skills and now his signature weapon seemingly gone, questions abound.