Rumors About Deontay Wilder’s Next Opponent Are Nothing but False

On Wednesday, the boxing world went crazy when reports of Deontay Wilder making a comeback started to float. The former WBC heavyweight champion last fought against Zhilei Zhang in June last year and suffered a fifth-round TKO loss. It was Wilder’s fourth career loss in his last five matches, and now he desperately needs a career revival if he wishes to stick with boxing.

The news excited the fans as it showed that ‘The Bronze Bomber’ was ready to give it another shot. The report further suggested that the American boxer will take on Stephan Shaw in his comeback fight in April on BLK Prime PPV in Atalanta, Georgia, a fight that many Wilder fans would like to see. However, it turns out the reports were false as Shaw sat down with sports journalist Hans Themistode to deny the rumors putting Wilder’s comeback in question since again.

A perfect opportunity for Shaw

While talking to Themistode, the 20-2 boxer claimed the reports took him by surprise as well. He revealed, “I just woke up one morning and they were talking about the fight. This was about a couple of weeks ago, I got a call from somebody,” and they informed Shaw of the floating news. However, he had received no information of an offer from them.

Shaw further claimed that he only shared the news himself to push the narrative further. “Today I saw this information on a blog and shared it. I feel that this fight would be perfect for me,” claimed the Saint Louis native before referring to the history the duo shares.

“I have sparred with Deontay since 2017 and was his main sparring partner. I was part of every camp, from his fight with Gerald Washington to his most recent bout with Zhang,” stated Shaw. ‘Big Shot’ has been with Deontay Wilder for years. He has seen the ups and downs and just decided to “run with the” news when it surfaced before even talking to his manager. “This is a fight we wanted to take, but honestly, right now it’s all smoke and mirrors,” lamented Shaw with a huge sigh.

It was evident that the 32-year-old wanted the fight. However, judging by his latest statement, the fight might not happen, which is a shame, as it would have been a great fight. It has raised serious doubt regarding not only Bronze Bomber’s next opponent but his return as well.

Deontay Wilder’s return uncertain

While Themistdore still expects the 39-year-old to make his return in April, his opponent is uncertain. Considering how Shaw would have been a brilliant test for Wilder upon his return, finding a different opponent might be tough.

Firstly, the former WBC heavyweight champion needs a legitimate challenger he can dominate to make his return. In his last fight against Zhang, he showed his power, but his stamina and durability were long gone. He is surely in the twilight years of his career and another loss could push him toward retirement.

According to some reports, Deontay Wilder is expected to announce his next opponent this weekend. While the Shaw fight is almost ruled out, there is no doubt that it would have been perfect for the duo. It would have given ‘Big Shot’ a perfect chance to make a name for himself. On the other hand, Shaw would have proven to be a perfect opponent for Wilder to steamroll through given his knowledge of Shaw’s fighting style.

Who do you think will be Deontay Wilder’s next opponent? Let us know your thoughts down below.