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Boxing

Deontay Wilder explains reasons for long absence from the ring ahead of comeback

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DAZN
Published by Matt Astbury
2, Apr 25
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Last week, the boxing world learnt that former WBC champion Deontay Wilder's career will continue. 

On June 27, 'The Bronze Bomber' will end a 12 month absence from the ring when he takes on Tyrrell Anthony Herndon in Wichita, Kansas. 

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Wilder's stock has taken a significant hit in recent years following back-to-back losses to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang, with some wondering whether his time in the ring had come to an end. 

However, in an exclusive interview with DAZN's Ariel x Ade: The Boxing Show, Wilder revealed that he was waiting to be ready both physically and mentally before lacing up the gloves once more. 

"We’ve had many opportunities, but we’ve had to get a lot of things out the way like recovery," Wilder said. 

"We’ve been doing many different things, staying in shape most of all because we knew I was going to return, we just did not have the date to return because of all the injuries I had and the different things outside as well that was going on.

"We wanted to make sure that I was fully healthy, physically, mentally and emotionally."

  • Read next | 'I thought they despised each other' - Carl Frampton reacts to Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn 'bromance' on DAZN

Sometimes injuries, which are unknown to the wider public, can often be the reason for a fighter's prolonged absence from the ring and this was a case for Wilder. 

Two successive injuries to his shoulder forced Wilder to take time away from boxing, which left him in constant pain when throwing his devastating right hand. 

"Anybody who knows about shoulder injuries knows that it’s one of the longest injuries you can go through, and I ended up injuring my shoulder at one point in time, and it healed," Wilder continued. 

"Then I ended up having an accident, falling on the same shoulder and then I had to start the process over again.

"Every time I threw my right hand; it would be nothing but pain."

If Wilder can get the win on June 27, he will no doubt become a major figure once again in a heavyweight division which has experienced a revival with a generation of exciting fighters making a name for themselves in boxing's most popular weight class. 

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