INTO THE WILDER
Deontay defends his WBC heavyweight crown against a late replacement
SINCE the turn of the year, Washington has been something of a buzz word across the globe. Unexpectedly for Deontay Wilder, in more
ways than one.
Just 10 days after former boxing promoter Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States, it was confirmed that Gerald Washington would fill the void left by Andrzej Wawrzyk and provide us with an all-american world heavyweight title clash against Wilder at Birmingham, Alabama’s Legacy Arena on Saturday (February 25). Sky Sports (UK) and FOX Sports 1 (US) televise.
Wawrzyk, the 33-1 Pole, had tested positive for a banned substance, becoming the second man – after Alexander Povetkin – to scupper a shot at Wilder’s WBC crown by allegedly taking something he shouldn’t.
It seems that some heavyweights do not like the idea of facing Wilder’s extreme power (he has beaten 36 of his 37 opponents inside the distance) without some sort of outside help. Californian Washington, however, is not one of them, and has been given the chance to face his compatriot. The former University of Southern California American football player and US Navy veteran has steadily built up an 18-0-1 (12) record since his professional debut back in July 2012, with the only blot on his otherwise flawless résumé coming via a draw with Amir Mansour in their October 2015 10-rounder. Of course, Alabama’s Wilder, 31, represents a significant step up in class for the man known as “El Gallo Negro” – or “The Black Rooster” – especially at such short notice, but the champion should not count his chickens. Washington, three years older at 34, says the short camp will not be a problem and insists he is always ready. “I will leave it all out there,” he said. “I will be the best me I can be. “It’s short notice but the good thing about us is we stay ready all the time. We don’t take too much time off. We are here, this is our life and this is what we do.” That may be so, but it is one thing ticking over and another thing preparing
for your first shot at a world heavyweight title.
At 6ft 6ins and anywhere up to 270lbs, Washington certainly has the correct dimensions for a new-age heavyweight, and will be fighting a man not long back from a torn bicep. But, as it happens, they have actually been out of the ring for exactly the same amount of time, as their last appearances came on the same card.
That night, July 16 last year, Wilder stopped perennial fringe contender Chris Arreola in the eighth round having floored him in the fourth. But it was a painful win for the champion, who broke his hand as well as sustaining the aforementioned bicep tear.
It was the fourth underwhelming defence of the WBC belt he won so brilliantly by outboxing Bermane Stiverne back in January 2015. Eric Molina, Johann Duhaupas, Artur Szpilka and then Arreola. Hardly a Murderers’ Row.
Washington does little to arrest a run of opponents who have failed to inspire any real excitement or raise genuine questions about the result, but there are extenuating circumstances this time. Those serious injuries, plus the doping problems, meant this one was unlikely to be any different.
In an ideal world, Wilder would have travelled to Russia last May in order to face Povetkin in a showdown which would have silenced those who suggest he is still yet to face anything approaching a threat since he became champion. After all, it was not his fault that fight fell out of bed.
Washington, like Wilder, is signed with Al Haymon, so this clash was always an option, but it was not expected to come so soon, or indeed “too soon”, as the champion says. But Washington is not fazed: “Al Haymon was a big part of this, he put me in this position. He has been putting me in the right situations.
“To get to certain places you’ve got to pass certain tests. You will never know if you’re afraid.”
For Wilder, fights against the likes of Anthony Joshua and incredible amounts of money await as long as he keeps his title. Washington, unbeaten or otherwise, does not look like the man to throw a spanner in the works.
Should the champion’s bicep and hand hold up okay, his power should be enough to eliminate his tough, game challenger in the final third of the fight.
“Washington doesn’t know what’s coming for him,” Wilder said. “I think he’s overwhelmed with the excitement of this opportunity.
“He said a lot of similar things that I said coming up, but I don’t think he knows what February 25 has in store for him.”
THE VERDICT Washington is perhaps better than the man he replaced, but still not the man Wilder needs.
‘YOU’VE GOT TO PASS TESTS. YOU’LL NEVER KNOW IF YOU’RE AFRAID’