“My Daughter That Was Born With Spina Bifida”: Ahead of Saudi Arabian Debut, Deontay Wilder Reveals the Only Reason He Got Into Business of Boxing

Most boxers get into the sport of boxing because of the money and fame it can bring them, but not Deontay Wilder! ‘The Bronze Bomber’ has made his way to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ahead of his fight against Joseph Parker on December 23. The pair will face each other in the co-main event alongside Anthony Joshua and Otto Wallin. 

The upcoming fight will be Wilder’s first fight of 2023 and the second fight since being put down by Tyson Fury in their epic trilogy. However, before the Saturday night showdown can commence, the Tuscaloosa resident sheds light on why he got into the brutal sport of boxing. Hint – He is often known as the hardest hitter in the heavyweight division, but he is still a softy for the people in his life. 

Deontay Wilder promised his daughter he will be a world champion

While appearing in the Off The Cuff With Deontay Wilder interview, the 38-year-old Wilder credited his family, especially his daughter, for pursuing a career in boxing. The father of eight went on to suggest his daughter Naieya Wilder was born with Spina Bifida, so he wanted to provide her with the means to lead a better life. 

“Because of various reasons, you know, my goal was to provide for my family. Mainly, my daughter [who] was born with Spina bifida. That’s the only reason I got into this business,” said Wilder. The Tuscaloosa resident also added that he promised his daughter to become a world champion, claiming he accomplished that while providing for his other eight children. On a separate note, during the birth of his daughter Naieya, Wilder was extremely scared.

Wilder had the opportunity to terminate the pregnancy

‘The Bronze Bomber’ has eight kids with four different women, and Naieya was born to his old girlfriend, Helen Duncan. However, before her birth, the doctors informed Wilder about the defect his daughter would be born with. “The doctors told us she would never walk. Told us maybe she would never have a child’s natural ability for learning. They offered us the opportunity to terminate,” Wilder told Daly Mail.

Also Read: Everything About Deontay Wilder’s Daughter Naieya Who Had Spina Bifida

Speaking about his daughter, Wilder claimed he was extremely scared about the birth of his daughter. However, the fact that she would be born with a defect that would affect her daily life scared Wilder even further. “It was even scarier that this tiny being would be coming into the world with a defect,” Wilder said before his final rendezvous with Fury.

Despite being one of the most feared men in the heavyweight division, Deontay Wilder is a run-of-the-mill family man who is protective of his children. His children, as it turns out, are also the reason boxing got one of the best boxers of the modern era. What did you think of Wilder’s reason for getting into the sport? Who do you think would win in the upcoming fight? 

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