Deontay Wilder has endured a rough patch lately, and with the latest loss against Zhilei Zhang, the curtains are slowly drawing on his career. The American boxer has won only 1 match out of the five he fought in the last few years. Despite these dwindling returns and self-doubt, he has an ardent fan base. Tristan Tate is one such fan, who heaped praise on the former WBC champion and celebrated his 16-year-long career.

Wilder, 38, is in his twilight years and far removed from his prime. With every new match, the once-feared Bronze Bomber looks less like his former self. But when he stood firm, neither life nor any opponent could throw a punch to shake him. The Alabama native took up boxing at 18 to make ends meet, especially for his family, and to pay the medical bills of his elder daughter. Not only did he rack up an Olympic medal but also won a pro world title. After putting his body on the line for close to two decades and entertaining fans with exciting fights, Wilder deserves the utmost respect from fans. Tate, 35, did the same when he turned to his X handle.

Speculating a retirement up ahead, Tate wrote, “Let’s take a moment to congratulate @BronzeBomber on a fantastic career. Thank you for the countless hours of nail biting entertainment over the years. He’s got the money, he’s got the fame, he’s got a family. I hope he enjoys retirement.” The controversial influencer and the brother of Andrew Tate also kept the door open in case Wilder, at 43-4-1, decided to return to the squared circle for one last hurrah. He added, “He may well decide to step back in the ring, who knows. But if he doesn’t? *A round of applause*.”

The boxing community is split in two over the important question of Wilder going the retirement route. The Alabama native has been a shadow of his former self since the trilogy with Tyson Fury. In addition, the prolonged inactivity after the 2nd Fury loss also dented his performance and led Lennox Lewis to express concern over his health, if he continued to fight further.

On the other hand, Anthony Joshua, who saw Zhang revive his career at 41 after a loss to Joseph Parker, wanted Wilder to give himself another such shot. But he also understood his American counterpart’s duties as a family man. Therefore, ‘The Bronze Bomber’ has to make a tough call, weighing his career and his responsibilities towards his family at the same time. However, his mother has already passed a verdict on the hotly debated question. What did she say?

Deontay Wilder’s mother is ready to celebrate his son’s legacy

Deborah Wilder was eager to welcome his son and celebrate his son’s splendid run at the top all these years. Not only did she point at Wilder’s growing age, but she also lauded his efforts to popularize boxing in the United States. She then added, “You’ve gotten older. You’ve ran your course in your journey. It’s time to celebrate.”

The 2008 Olympic medalist still remains highly popular because of his fan-friendly boxing style and his eagerness to finish fights spectacularly. The fans will still flock to arenas to witness him trade punches and would understand if Wilder chose to continue his professional journey, despite the recent hiccups. If not, there are fans like Tristan Tate who will understand the reason behind his decision. Lastly, he has another lucrative option, to switch to exhibitions and crossover fights, safeguarding his body as well as earning hefty paychecks.

What will be next for Deontay Wilder? What do you make of these comments by Tristan Tate about Deontay Wilder’s illustrious career? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.