Deontay Wilder insists boxing would be dead if it wasn't for American champions in the sport.
Former WBC heavyweight champion Wilder, who hasn't fought since being knocked out by Tyson Fury last October, has confirmed he would box again. 'The Bronze Bomber' pondered retirement after his last fight but insists he "must" continue his journey in the ring.
Part of Wilder's decision to return is because he believes American champions are a necessity for boxing to survive. Eager to win back a world title, Wilder stated that his return has come after popular demand.
"One thing about boxing that I've proved is, boxing thrives off of excitement but the excitement of an American champion," he told Blue Blood Sports TV. "Once that dies, so does boxing. it was living proof, because I'm coming back on popular demand because that's all I've been hearing from high and low.
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"From homeless people all the way up to billionaires. It's just been an amazing feeling, so many people have reached out and told me it's important. Without an American heavyweight boxing really isn't exciting.
"An American heavyweight brings that excitement to the division and all the money flows. Same with the people, everybody comes and goes. I had multiples of people asking me to come back."
Wilder held the WBC heavyweight world title for six years and defended it 10 times. He first won the belt by outpointing Bermane Stiverne but eventually met his match in Fury, being knocked out twice by the Brit after they fought to a controversial draw in 2018.
Wilder became a role model for young people in his home state after taking up boxing as a teenager to support his daughter who was born with spina bifida. His efforts in the sport were recently acknowledged as a life-size statue of him was unveiled in his hometown of Tuscaloosa in Alabama.
He said of the statue: "I know I’m going to set a lot of records. I’m going to break a lot of records along my journey. This is something that God is giving, not only to me but also to my state and my city.
“We will soon see people coming to the state of Alabama, going through the city of Tuscaloosa, looking at the statue. This will be something for my children, children, and grandchildren. I am very happy and grateful for this project. I’m very excited about it.”
