Deontay Wilder
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Deontay Wilder (b. Tuscaloosa, Ala. October 22, 1985) is an American amateur heavyweight boxer best known for winning two major national titles in 2007 and to qualify for the Olympics 2008.
[edit] Career
The very tall 6'7" Wilder who possesses a powerful right hand hails from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He started boxing in October 2005 and seemingly came out of nowhere in 2007 (just 14 bouts going in) to upset the favorites and win both the National Golden Gloves and the US championships at 201 lbs(91Kg).
He graduated from Tuscaloosa Central High School in 2004 and dreamed of playing football (wide receiver) or basketball(forward) for the hometown Crimson Tide, but the birth of his little daughter Naieya (b.1982) who suffers from a spinal condition and grade issues forced him to nearby Shelton Community College and to focus on a boxing career.
At the Golden Gloves he defeated highly touted cadet world champion Isiah Thomas a southpaw of Detroit and David Thompson, of Brooklyn, N.Y in the finals. At the US championship he defeated Quantis Graves and won the final 31-15 over southpaw James Zimmerman of San Jose, Calif.
At the Olympic Trials he beat Graves two more times and won the Olympic Trials with only 21 bouts. At the first round of the world championships 2007 he dropped a 20:23 decision to Poland’s Krzysztof Zimnoch.
Early in 2008 he scored a career best win by edging out World Silver medallist Rakhim Chakhiyev in Russia in a Duals.
He qualified for the Olympics by beating Deivis Julio 6:5 Jorge Quinones from Ecuador on double countback and and Brazilian Rafael Lima 6:5 at the qualifier. In each bout he was trailing going into the final round.
| Preceded by Adam Willett |
United States Amateur Heavyweight Champion 2007 |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
