Wilder regroups for heavyweight defense
BIRMINGHAM, ALA . Deontay Wilder couldn’t bear the thought of leaving his Tuscaloosa home.
He didn’t want to even think about socializing — of seeing loved ones and friends. He simply wanted to be left alone.
The WBC heavyweight champ was set for the biggest night of his career, a title defense against top contender Alexander Povetkin on the challenger’s home turf of Moscow. But five days before fight night, the event was called off after Povetkin tested positive for the performance-enhancing substance meldonium.
Wilder was heartbroken. He had wrapped up a grueling eightweek training camp in Alabama and was in England to get adjusted to the time difference. The 30year-old’s chance to prove himself against a former champion and Olympic gold medalist — close to an even-money fight, according to Las Vegas odds — was robbed.
After about two weeks, Wilder says, he finally got out of his funk. He was ready to get back in the ring and needed an opponent for a homecoming fight in his home state. And while he said Thursday that Chris Arreola didn’t deserve a title shot — the Southern Californian shook his head no in agreement as Wilder said it — Wilder conceded that Arreola fit the bill as a name opponent who carried power in both fists, talked a great game and made for great action fights.
They’ll do battle Saturday in the main event of Premier Boxing Champions on Fox (8 p.m. ET) at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Wilder’s fourth title defense and third in the city.
“I don’t look past no fighter. This is the hurt business,” Wilder (36-0, 35 KOs) told USA TODAY Sports after Thursday’s news conference. “I’m glad that he thinks that way, because I want the best Chris Arreola. I don’t want no excuses from nobody. If he thinks that, he’s going to come and bring it.”
Wilder says he hopes “The Nightmare” doesn’t go too hard, though, because then the underdog will become exhausted, and Wilder says he doesn’t get tired.
Indeed, Arreola’s penchant for sporting a poor physique has been an albatross for his entire career. Wilder, on the other hand, is always chiseled at 6-7.
To display the team’s singular focus, trainer Jay Deas held up a “There Is Only Chris Arreola” sign. There’s a good reason Arreola thinks he’s being overlooked, though. He was knocked out in his two other title challenges, losses to future Hall of Famer Vitali Klitschko and Bermane Stiverne, whom Wilder topped to wrest the belt away.
And at 35, Arreola (36-4-1, 31 KOs) is coming off the worst campaign of his career. He struggled to a decision victory against journeyman Curtis Harper in March and then was held to a draw vs. Fred Kassi four months later. Ar- reola ended 2015 with a controversial nod against longtime sparring partner Travis Kauffman (later changed to a no decision after Arreola tested positive for marijuana).
Some oddsmakers have installed the champ as a 30-1 favorite to retain his title, a fact Arreola referenced. He called himself a “sleeping giant” and told USA TODAY Sports he instructed family members to lay at least $1,000 on him to win.
Arreola, a free-swinging heavyweight who is beloved for his honest interviews and profanitylaced tirades, thinks he can test Wilder’s unproven chin, but the 6-3 heavyweight also must deal with a hostile crowd.
Promoter Lou DiBella expects more than 10,000 fans Saturday, the biggest crowd for a fight in Alabama, and says Wilder “really has become a sports franchise here.”
“The division is definitely lit up. It’s exciting again,” Wilder said of the long-dormant heavyweights. “The big boys are definitely ruling the division. Soon I just want it to be one big boy ruling the division. One name, one face, one title: Deontay Wilder.”