Deontay Wilder names ‘killer’ reason why embraces performing in the Middle East
Former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder is 0-1 in fights in Saudi Arabia, losing to just the second opponent of his career when he travelled to Riyadh back in December in what was his worst performance in his 47-fight career.
However, ‘The Bronze Bomber’ has now revealed the reason why he enjoys fighting in the Middle East, despite being winless in the kingdom.
38-year-old Wilder has fought outside of the United States on five other occasions, travelling to Mexico, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom, winning by knockout on each of those outings. Yet, his visit to Saudi was less fruitful, where he was whitewashed by Joseph Parker, costing him a lucrative and long-awaited clash with Anthony Joshua.
Irrespective of his showdown with Parker, Wilder told The Stomping Ground that he loves competing in Saudi Arabia, as people do not judge him for saying that he wants a ‘body’ on his record, a statement that has caused controversy in the past.
“The last one [fight] was a blessing in disguise. I thought that I had things figured out and when you think that you have things figured out, you don’t realise until you get into a fight like that, that there is a little more to know. It is a blessing in disguise because after that fight I hit the ground running, that Monday morning. I’m looking forward to displaying what I feel is here.
“I am working with people that want to see that monster, that want to see that killer, that won’t judge me for saying that I want to kill a man and put him on my record.
“Being able to do this and be with the Saudis, who give me the green light and say that they want that killer back, it is like the icing on the cake. It’s like a dream come true.”
Wilder will fight Zhilei Zhang on the Beterbiev-Bivol undercard in Riyadh on June 1st, as he seeks to get his career and title charge back on track.