Deontay Wilder recently revealed that he was battling a serious, undisclosed injury during his last two fights. The former WBC heavyweight champion, known as the “Bronze Bomber,” shared in an interview with TMZ that he had unknowingly fought with a broken arm and shoulder tears, which he only discovered after a recent MRI.
Wilder, who held the WBC world heavyweight title from 2015 to 2020 and defended it ten times before losing to Tyson Fury, has faced tough setbacks in his recent bouts. In December, he lost to Joseph Parker by unanimous decision, followed by a fifth-round knockout loss to Zhilei Zhang in June.
These losses have pushed Wilder further from the heavyweight title picture, and a potential blockbuster matchup with Anthony Joshua seems more distant than ever.
Reflecting on his injuries, Wilder explained, “I broke my arm way back in November. I didn’t know. I had two tears on my shoulder, too. I felt pain, but I thought it was from old injuries.” He admitted that his high pain tolerance led him to overlook the severity until he got an MRI, which confirmed the extent of the damage.
Despite his recent struggles, Wilder’s impressive power and resilience have kept fans hopeful for his comeback. However, his path back to the top may now be more challenging than he initially thought.