Deontay Leshun wilder (born October 22, 1985) is an American professional boxer who has held the WBC heavyweight title since 2015. As an amateur he represented the United States at the 2008 Olympics, winning a bronze medal in the heavyweight division. This led to his nickname of "The Bronze Bomber", which Wilder coined after Joe Louis, who was also from Alabama and was known by the nickname of "The Brown Bomber".

Wilder possesses an athletic physique and uses his natural attributes to his boxing style. He is an outside fighter that uses a sharp left jab to establish range, and has formidable knockout power in his straight right hand. He is undefeated as a professional with a 97.2% knockout win ratio, with 18 knockouts in the first round. As of July 2016, Wilder is ranked the world's third best heavyweight by The Ring magazine and BoxRec, and fourth by the transnational Boxing Ranking Board.

Amateur career

Wilder started boxing in October 2005 when he entered Skyy Boxing Gym in Northport, Alabama and began training under Jay Deas. Wilder was 19 at the time, which was considered late to start training.

By 2007 he upset the favorites to win both the National Golden Gloves and the US championships at 201 lbs. At the Golden Gloves he defeated highly touted cadet world champion Isiah Thomas, a southpaw from Detroit, and David Thompson, of Brooklyn, N.Y. in the finals. At the U.S. championship he defeated Quantis Graves and won the final 31-15 over southpaw James Zimmerman of San Jose, California.

At the Olympic trials he beat Graves twice more and won the Olympic trials in only 21 bouts. Early in 2008 he scored a career best win by edging out World Gold medalist and future Olympic champion Rakhim Chakhiyev in Russia.

Professional career

Early career

Wilder turned professional on November 15, 2008. From his professional debut to August 2014, he racked up and impressive 32 fight win streak, winning all contest by knockout and all within four rounds; with notable stoppages of former WBA heavyweight title challenger Owen Beck, and former European heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medalist Audley Harrison.

On August 9, 2013 Wilder pushed his knockout streak to 29 fights by knocking out former WBO heavyweight champion Sirahei Liakhovich in round one of a Showtime main event.

WBC heavyweight champion

Wilder vs Stiverne

In March 2014, Wilder beat fellow American Malik Scott by first round knockout. This set up his position as mandatory challenger for the WBC heavyweight title held by new champion Bermane Stiverne, who had defeated Chris Arreola for the title vacated by the retiring Vitali Klitschko. In January 2015, billed as 'Return to Glory', Wilder fought Stiverne at the MCM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada and made his dream a reality by winning the WBC heavyweight title from the defending champion by unanimous decision after twelve rounds. Stiverne landed 110 of 327 punches (34%) with Wilder landing 227 of 621 punches (37%). This was the first real proof to critics that Wilder could go the distance and could box, as up to that point he had finished all opponent inside the distance. After the fight, Wilder dedicated his win to his disabled daughter, and to his boxing hero Muhammad Ali, who had turned 73 years old that same day.