Latest news with #TyrrellHerndon
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wilder ends losing streak, but questions linger
Deontay Wilder wins his 44th pro fight, with four losses and one draw [Getty Images] Former heavyweight world champion Deontay Wilder returned to winning ways with a low-key comeback victory, stopping the overmatched Tyrrell Herndon in the seventh round in Kansas. Wilder dropped his fellow American in the second round, scored another knockdown in the sixth, and closed the show with two chopping right hands a round later, prompting the referee to wave it off. Advertisement After a torrid few years - three defeats in his previous four bouts, most recently a punishing loss to Zhilei Zhang in Saudi Arabia - Wilder registered his first win since October 2022. But while it was a dominant performance, it was far from vintage Bronze Bomber. Once the most feared puncher in the division and perhaps the greatest one-shot finisher of all time, the old Wilder would likely have dispatched Herndon earlier and to more fanfare. With a sparse crowd at the Charles Koch Arena in Wichita and no major television broadcast, it was a modest setting for a fighter who once shook arenas and headlined pay-per-view events against the likes of Tyson Fury. Advertisement Gone were the diamond-encrusted masks and theatrical entrances. This was a stripped-back re-entry, but perhaps that's what Wilder needed. "I've been laid off for a long time, getting myself back together, repairing myself emotionally. It is just nice to be back in the ring. This is a new beginning for me," the 39-year-old said. How did Wilder look? Wilder's return was not broadcast on any of the major TV platforms [Getty Images] Wilder - who recently split from long-time trainer Malik Scott - floored Herndon with a sharp counter left hook in the second round, a reminder that his timing and instincts remain dangerous. But for much of the early rounds, his trademark weapon - the devastating straight right - stayed largely silent. Instead, it was his left hand and a steady jab that brought him success. Advertisement "I wanted to display more. Taking my time to be able to set up my shot and become more than my right hand. I want to become a complete, all-round fighter," Wilder said post-fight. Herndon, 37, had lost five of his previous 28 bouts. In 2023, highly rated American prospect Richard Torrez Jr stopped him inside two rounds. By the midway point, Wilder began finding the right hand with more consistency. The stoppage came with Herndon still on his feet, and while perhaps a touch early, the outcome felt inevitable. It was a clear and composed win, but not an explosive one. "There's a lot of things I did right and there are a lot of things I could have done right as well," Wilder added. Where had Wilder been? Wilder looked a shadow of himself in a stoppage loss to Zhilei Zhang in June 2024 [Getty Images] Wilder has now stopped 43 opponents in 44 wins, many in dramatic fashion. Advertisement But since his trilogy with Briton Fury - a brutal, history-making rivalry that saw him floored five times and stopped twice - Wilder has never quite looked the same. Those defeats appeared to drain not just his record but his aura, confidence, and perhaps his trust in the sport. In the aftermath, Wilder made unsubstantiated claims of loaded gloves, spiked water and betrayal from within his team, drawing ridicule and alienating some fans. A long-rumoured bout with Anthony Joshua seemed close in late 2023, but Wilder was soundly beaten on points by New Zealand's Joseph Parker in Saudi Arabia. It was a flat, uninspired display that derailed the Joshua fight and raised fresh doubts about Wilder's future. Advertisement Then came the crushing fifth-round defeat to Zhang last year - a loss that, to many, looked like the end. Wilder vanished from the spotlight. He went quiet on social media and drifted off the radar. He insists he never planned to walk away and says he had been working with a sports psychologist to help him heal and rekindle his love for boxing. This comeback, he says, was always part of the plan. Can Wilder get back to the top? Wilder says he still wants to become a unified world champion. On current form, that goal feels distant. Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois will contest the undisputed title next month, and Wilder is well outside that picture. Advertisement Still, in heavyweight boxing - where power and name value still matter - nothing is impossible. "When you're in the heavyweight division you're always one fight away from a title fight," Wilder said, adding that he will "take his time" before facing the division's elite. "A lot of money is on the line but sometimes it ain't all about the money," he added. One fight looms large: Joshua. Once the dream matchup of the division, it's now two former champions with everything to lose. A title may no longer be on the line, but their careers, pride and potentially one last shot at glory would be. Advertisement A lucrative bout with former UFC champion Francis Ngannou in Africa has been touted, while British cult favourite Dave Allen has also been thrown into the mix by his promoter, Eddie Hearn. For now, though, the Bronze Bomber is back. He may no longer be the division's most feared force, but his name still carries weight. More boxing from the BBC
BBC News
7 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Wilder ends losing streak, but questions linger
Former heavyweight world champion Deontay Wilder returned to winning ways with a low-key comeback victory, stopping the overmatched Tyrrell Herndon in the seventh round in dropped his fellow American in the second round, scored another knockdown in the sixth, and closed the show with two chopping right hands a round later, prompting the referee to wave it a torrid few years - three defeats in his previous four bouts, most recently a punishing loss to Zhilei Zhang in Saudi Arabia - Wilder registered his first win since October while it was a dominant performance, it was far from vintage Bronze Bomber. Once the most feared puncher in the division and perhaps the greatest one-shot finisher of all time, the old Wilder would likely have dispatched Herndon earlier and to more fanfare. With a sparse crowd at the Charles Koch Arena and no major television broadcast, it was a modest setting for a fighter who once shook arenas and headlined pay-per-view events against the likes of Tyson were the diamond-encrusted masks and theatrical entrances. This was a stripped-back re-entry, but perhaps that's what Wilder needed."I've been laid off for a long time, getting myself back together, repairing myself emotionally. It is just nice to be back in the ring. This is a new beginning for me," the 39-year-old said. How did Wilder look? Wilder - who recently split from long-time trainer Malik Scott - floored Herndon with a sharp counter left hook in the second round, a reminder that his timing and instincts remain for much of the early rounds, his trademark weapon - the devastating straight right - stayed largely silent. Instead, it was his left hand and a steady jab that brought him success."I wanted to dsplay more. Taking my time to be able to set up my shot and become more than my right hand. I want to become a complete, all-round fighter," Wilder said 37, had lost five of his previous 28 bouts. In 2023, highly rated American prospect Richard Torrez Jr stopped him inside two the midway point, Wilder began finding the right hand with more consistency. The stoppage came with Herndon still on his feet, and while perhaps a touch early, the outcome felt was a clear and composed win, but not an explosive one. "There's a lot of things I did right and there are a lot of things I could have done right as well," Wilder added. Where had Wilder been? Wilder has now stopped 43 opponents in 44 wins, many in dramatic fashion. But since his trilogy with Briton Fury - a brutal, history-making rivalry that saw him floored five times and stopped twice - Wilder has never quite looked the defeats appeared to drain not just his record but his aura, confidence, and perhaps his trust in the sport. In the aftermath, Wilder made unsubstantiated claims of loaded gloves, spiked water and betrayal from within his team, drawing ridicule and alienating some fans.A long-rumoured bout with Anthony Joshua seemed close in late 2023, but Wilder was soundly beaten on points by New Zealand's Joseph Parker in Saudi Arabia. It was a flat, uninspired display that derailed the Joshua fight and raised fresh doubts about Wilder's came the crushing fifth-round defeat to Zhang last year - a loss that, to many, looked like the vanished from the spotlight. He went quiet on social media and drifted off the radar. He insists he never planned to walk away and says he had been working with a sports psychologist to help him heal and rekindle his love for comeback, he says, was always part of the plan. Can Wilder get back to the top? Wilder says he still wants to become a unified world champion. On current form, that goal feels distant. Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois will contest the undisputed title next month, and Wilder is well outside that in heavyweight boxing - where power and name value still matter - nothing is impossible."When you're in the heavyweight division you're always one fight away from a title fight," Wilder said, adding that he will "take his time" before facing the division's elite. "A lot of money is on the line but sometimes it ain't all about the money," he fight looms large: Joshua. Once the dream matchup of the division, it's now two former champions with everything to lose.A title may no longer be on the line, but their careers, pride and potentially one last shot at glory would be.A lucrative bout with former UFC champion Francis Ngannou in Africa has been touted, while British cult favourite Dave Allen has also been thrown into the mix by his promoter, Eddie Hearn. For now, though, the Bronze Bomber is back. He may no longer be the division's most feared force, but his name still carries weight.
Scottish Sun
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Deontay Wilder floors Tyrrell Herndon twice before seventh-round stoppage in comeback fight
American opened up on his emotional return DEONT CALL IT A COMEBACK Deontay Wilder floors Tyrrell Herndon twice before seventh-round stoppage in comeback fight DEONTAY WILDER floored Tyrrell Herndon twice before winning his comeback fight in seven rounds. The former WBC heavyweight world champion returned to the ring in Wichita, Kansas against little-known Herndon. 2 Deontay Wilder stopped Tyrrell Herndon in his comeback fight 2 Wilder celebrates his first win in three years And he did so without a win since 2022 - having lost on points to Joseph Parker before a crushing KO defeat to Zhilei Zhang. But Wilder did get back in the win column after dropping Herndon first in round two with a left hook then with a combination in the seventh. He said: "It felt great. Thanks to my opponent, I appreciate the work. "I've been laid off for a long time, getting myself back together, repairing myself emotionally. "It is just nice to be back in the ring. This is a new beginning for me." Nelson Lopez Jr - who promoted Wilder's comeback fight - told SunSport the American's next comeback fight is already pencilled in. And then an anticipated showdown against Anthony Joshua has been targeted for next year. Nelson said: "We got a tentative deal and we're just going one by one. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS "We have the next one set up, this one set up, nothing solid for the third one - you know how boxing is, there's no path of how you succeed. "We have to get over this, so anything can happen. We got to get over the next one. Anything can happen. "And then, you know maybe Eddie (Hearn) will sit at the table and see what we can do something with AJ."
The Irish Sun
8 hours ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Deontay Wilder floors Tyrrell Herndon twice before seventh-round stoppage in comeback fight
DEONTAY WILDER floored Tyrrell Herndon twice before winning his comeback fight in seven rounds. The former WBC heavyweight world champion returned to the ring in Wichita, Kansas against little-known Herndon. Advertisement 2 Deontay Wilder stopped Tyrrell Herndon in his comeback fight 2 Wilder celebrates his first win in three years And he did so without a win since 2022 - having lost on points to Joseph Parker before a crushing KO defeat to Zhilei Zhang. But He said: "It felt great. Thanks to my opponent, I appreciate the work. "I've been laid off for a long time, getting myself back together, repairing myself emotionally. Advertisement "It is just nice to be back in the ring. This is a new beginning for me." Nelson Lopez Jr - who promoted Wilder's comeback fight - told SunSport the American's next comeback fight is already pencilled in. And then an anticipated showdown against Anthony Joshua Nelson said: "We got a tentative deal and we're just going one by one. Advertisement Most read in Boxing Exclusive Exclusive Exclusive CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS "We have the next one set up, this one set up, nothing solid for the third one - you know how boxing is, there's no path of how you succeed. "We have to get over this, so anything can happen. We got to get over the next one. Anything can happen. "And then, you know maybe Eddie (Hearn) will sit at the table and see what we can do something with AJ." Advertisement Deontay Wilder to have two comeback fights before eying double header with Anthony Joshua in London and Las Vegas
Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Deontay Wilder wins his first fight in three years with stoppage of Tyrrell Herndon in comeback bout
After stepping into the ring for the first time in about a year, American boxer Deontay Wilder has won his first bout in his last three attempts. Wilder, who had previously hinted at retirement, announced back in March that he was set to stage a comeback fight in Kansas against fellow countryman Tyrrell Herndon. The Alabama native was declared victorious in the bout - keeping alive his faint hopes for fights against more intense boxers and for bigger prizes. Friday's main card fight in an event held at the Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, was stopped in the seventh round. In that final round, 'The Bronze Bomber' connected on a left hook early before dropping Herndon to a knee with no count. Wilder continued to dominate throughout the round - with Herndon eating punch after punch until referee Ray Corona stepped in to prevent any further damage. Deontay Wilder just stopped Tyrrell Herndon in the seventh 🔥 His first win since 2022 — Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) June 28, 2025 For Wilder, the former WBC heavyweight champion, this marks his first win since October of 2022 - when he knocked out Finnish fighter Robert Helenius in the first round of a bout at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. That victory over Helenius was the lone win in his five fights preceding the contest in Kansas. Wilder had lost back-to-back title fights against Tyson Fury prior to his October 2022 win and then was beaten by Joseph Parker in a 2023 title fight, followed by Zhilei Zhang in 2024. After the Zhang loss, Wilder reportedly considered hanging up the gloves after accumulating a record of 43 wins, four losses, and a famous draw in his first matchup against Fury in 2018. But with a 44th victory under his belt, it's unclear what the 39-year-old has his sights set on next.
