Boxing industry looks to Alabama's Deontay Wilder as their savior

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama native Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder will defend his WBC Heavyweight title for the second time Saturday, taking on French challenger Johann Duhaupas in a nationally-televised prime time bout. As Wilder has captured the attention of more and more Alabamians and boxing fans, he has begun receiving consideration for another title: savior of one of the country’s oldest and most beloved sports.

According to a recent Huffington Post/YouGov poll, only 14 percent of Americans surveyed consider themselves fans of professional boxing, and 56 percent believe the sport’s best times are behind it.

Sports analysts believe boxing’s reputation hasn’t been helped by the prevalence of characters whose criminal behavior outside the ring has garnered as many or more headlines as their KOs inside it.

The country’s most famous boxer, Floyd Mayweather, has a disturbing history of misogyny and battering women, and Mike Tyson’s own rape conviction has further sullied the sport’s image.

Filipino Manny Pacquiao is expected to retire soon, and while he has the adoration of his home country, where he also serves as a member of the Philippine House of Representatives, the U.S. has yearned for a good guy boxer of its own.

Deontay Wilder, a 29-year-old family man and hometown hero, believes he can be the one who fights to bring back the sport to national prominence.

“I will be that guy to change this sport, especially in the heavyweight division,” Wilder recently told the Huffington Post. “A lot of people have lost interest. I’m the right man for the job … I want to make it bigger and better than it ever have been before.”

That resurgence has started at home, with Wilder insisting on holding his title defenses in Alabama, where more people are introduced to him and his competitive spirit every day.

“The heavyweight division has been on downfall, but now with Deontay reigning as the champion, he’s slowly but surely bringing back into the limelight,” said Damarius “Cuz” Hill, one of Wilder’s trainers. “You don’t have any Alis any more, any Tysons that really trains hard. … Deontay just has different demeanor about himself. … He’s more of a people’s champion.”

Yes, Wilder has a long way to go before earning the title of “Undisputed Heavyweight Boxing Champion,” which he’ll need to defeat Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko to clench, but he and his team are confident they’re well on their way.

“We want all the belts,” Cuz said. “We want the world to know exactly who Deontay Wilder is.”

Saturday’s prime-time fight will certainly help that, but it’s the boxer’s demeanor and values that are helping endear him to millions. Wilder’s reputation hard work, prioritizing of family, and dedication to the community and state he loves are winning him new fans every day.

The Wilder-Duhaupas fight will be broadcast on NBC at 7:30 PM on Saturday, September 26th.