Exclusive: Deontay Wilder sets sights on ‘unification’ to secure career legacy – ‘My work is not done’

Deontay Wilder has admitted that he still wants to be unified heavyweight champion of the world, insisting that he should have had a chance to unite the division’s belts previously in his career.

‘The Bronze Bomber’ will next take on Joseph Parker on December 23 on the stacked ‘Day of Reckoning’ card in Saudi Arabia, fighting on the same bill as Anthony Joshua, who will step into the ring for the third time this year to take on Otto Wallin.

Wilder and Joshua can set up a fight in 2024 if both win their upcoming bouts, with the American’s last fight coming in October of last year where he claimed a knockout victory over Robert Helenius.

And the 38-year-old, who made ten successful defences of his WBC world heavyweight title between 2015 and 2020 before it was taken from him by Tyson Fury, claimed that his overall ambition is to become the unified world heavyweight champion.

When asked by TNT Sports what he has left to achieve, Wilder said: “Unification. Unified heavyweight champion of the world.

“I was supposed to be unified heavyweight champion of the world three or four times. I never got the opportunity, but I always give opportunities.

“It seems like the love doesn’t ever come back to me. I understand, because I have a blessing and a curse, you know what I mean?

“But my work is not done. I have everything I want and need. I have a beautiful family. I have money.”

But Wilder, who boasts an impressive professional record of 43-2-1, says he is seeking more than money in the final stages of his career.

“I don’t dwell on money,” he added. ”Because that doesn’t bring true happiness or true peace. You can’t buy that, you know what I mean? That comes within, but to be able to be undisputed that goes along with my name.

“So when I’m done, when I hang the boxing gloves up, it’s all said and done. The majority of my accomplishments have been set in stone within a statue. I have a statue. So I’m a walking, living legend.

“But to add on to being undisputed heavyweight champion of the world would mean everything to me.”

Wilder and Joshua’s relationship has been a frosty one in the past, with it taking nearly eight years for the pair to finally come close to stepping into the ring against each other.

But speaking at the ‘Day of Reckoning’ press conference on Thursday, Wilder spoke of his joy to be stepping back in the ring after a year-long hiatus.

“It feels amazing,” he said. “This is an amazing feeling just to be back and just to be amongst boxing fans.

“We are finally able to get the fights, that we’ve been yearning for, what the fans have been yearning for,” he added speaking on the potential to fight Joshua.

“It’s soon, soon, you know, we have got to handle the business, got to stay focused and keep winning. The important thing about it all is to win.”

Wilder also delivered a speech to the camera announcing his return to the ring, claiming that he was excited to “let bombs loose”.

“Hey, this is Deontay Wilder, one of the hardest-hitting fighters in boxing history. And you know, when I come and perform, I put on a great performance,” he said, taking the microphone.

“Every man I’ve faced has hit the canvas before I even knocked him out.

“So you know, when you come to see heavyweight fights and you want to come and see a knockout, you can count on Wilder to be the man to get the job done, baby.

“I can’t wait. Soon it’s going to be ‘go time’ and when it’s ‘go time’, you know what it is, we are going to let bombs loose.

“The crowd is going to get louder because Wilder is coming in. We’re going to be like ‘bomb squad!’ and that’s why you should watch me.”