TUSCALOOSA | Three months after winning the United States’ only medal for boxing in the Beijing Olympics, Tuscaloosa native Deontay Wilder is set to step into the ring and fight professionally for the first time.
Wilder is scheduled to fight on the undercard of the Jermaine Taylor vs. Jeff Lacy fight Nov. 15 in Nashville, Tenn., at the Vanderbilt University Memorial Gymnasium.
Tickets have not gone on sale yet, but it is believed they will be available for purchase at Ticketmaster within the next week.
Wilder said he is anxious to begin his professional career.
“I’m ready to go make a name for myself,” Wilder said. “The first opportunity is every thing. I’m going to knock this guy out in the first round and send a message that the medalist is here.
“I’m ready to take my Olympic past into another chapter.”
Jay Deas, Wilder’s trainer, said an opponent has not been selected yet.
“We want to bring in a guy anywhere from 220 to 240 pounds,” Deas said.
“We’ve had about two dozen calls from people wanting to be Deontay’s first fight.
“Guys want their crack at the Olympic medalist because if they win it could catapult their career. Everybody sees it as their chance.”
Wilder fought in the Olympics at 201 pounds but Deas said he expects him to be around 210 pounds by the time of the fight.
Training between five and six days a week, Wilder is making the transition from amateur boxing with its padded headgear and points system to professional boxing.
“One of the first things we did when Deontay got back from China was I wrote down the Olympic scoring system on a sheet of paper and Deontay wadded it up and threw it away,” Deas said. “It was symbolic of him making the switch to a professional style.”
Wilder starts his fight camp today, which will include perfecting boxing techniques and working with several sparring partners.
Deas said Wilder will work against heavyweights along with smaller guys around 190 pounds to keep his speed and quickness up.
“We have a gym full of guys that we can work situationally,” Deas said. “We’ll have situations where Deontay can only throw right hands or another where he’ll only move to his left.
“Each day is going to be a learning type day as opposed to conditioning. (Deontay) is in such good shape. We’re just concentrating on the different type of fight. But he’s adapted quickly to the professional style.”
Wilder is working with strength and conditioning trainer Jesper Sjokvist to add weight to his 6-foot-7 frame while keeping his speed and flexibility.
“Training has been brutal. They’ve been working me hard,” Wilder said. “I wanted to gain weight but keep my speed and gain muscle. It’s a lot of the same exercise I was doing while training for the Olympics.”
Reach Aaron Suttles at
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or at 205-722-0229.
