Deontay Wilder is gearing up for a return to the ring this April under BLK Prime, though his opponent remains unknown. According to reports, Wilder’s manager Shelly Finkel plans to reveal the details in Los Angeles this weekend. We all are hoping for a notable name, especially considering that Wilder is coming off two straight losses to Zhilei Zhang and Joseph Parker .
One possibility that’s caught the public’s attention is a showdown with Francis Ngannou, who gave Tyson Fury trouble in their exhibition last year. Still, at 39 and having dropped four of his last five fights, Wilder needs to show he can remain competitive at the highest level. Many feel his defeat to Fury in 2020 fundamentally changed him, and losing by knockout to Zhang in June suggests he might still be struggling to regain confidence in his power and reflexes.
Watch Zhang vs. Wilder here: Watch
Despite a net worth reportedly around $40 million, Wilder seems determined not to ride off into the sunset just yet. Observers note, however, that his reluctance to let his hands go could signal lingering anxiety about getting countered. That's how Fury punished him, and it’s possible Wilder still has nightmares about those brutal exchanges.
Ultimately, a big factor will be the opponent BLK Prime lines up. If Wilder hopes to reassert himself among the heavyweight elite, a high-stakes match - perhaps with someone like Ngannou - could bring the drama fans crave. Whether the “Bronze Bomber” can turn back the clock and rediscover his once-devastating power remains the crucial question heading into his April return.
Get to know more about Deontay here.
Image Credit: DAZN