Wilder Claims Broken Arm in Previous Fights Against Parker and Zhang
Deontay Wilder's decline over the past year has been a shocking turn for the former WBC heavyweight world champion. After suffering the third and fourth defeats of his career, many have questioned whether he can make a comeback to the heavyweight throne. However, the hard-hitting American recently revealed a surprising reason for his struggles: a previously undiscovered broken arm.
A few years ago, Wilder, alongside Anthony Joshua, was one of the most feared heavyweights in the world, known for his devastating power that could knock out opponents with a single punch. After winning the WBC title in 2015 by defeating Bermane Stiverne, Wilder went on to dominate his division, defending his belt seven times. He rematched Stiverne and knocked him out in the first round, extending his streak of knocking out every opponent he faced.
Wilder’s career took a turn when he fought Tyson Fury in a controversial split-draw in 2018, marking the first blemish on his otherwise perfect record. Their subsequent rematches ended with Wilder suffering his first and second losses. After a long hiatus, Wilder returned to the ring in 2022, but his comeback was marred by a surprising loss to Joseph Parker, who dominated him, preventing the long-anticipated fight with Anthony Joshua.
Wilder, determined to regain his form, stepped into the ring again in 2024 to face the dangerous Zhilei Zhang. Unfortunately, despite his best efforts, he was knocked out in the fifth round, leaving many to question if it’s time for the knockout artist to retire.
However, in a recent interview with TMZ Sports, Wilder shed light on his struggles, revealing that he had fought both Parker and Zhang with a broken arm. "I broke my arm back in November," Wilder said. "I didn’t know. I had two tears on my shoulder. I could feel the pain, but I just thought it was from old injuries. But I got an MRI recently, and everything was messed up there. I didn’t know because I have a high tolerance for pain."
Despite the setbacks, Wilder remains determined to fight on. He even expressed interest in a crossover fight with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, who has long sought a match with Wilder. This surprising revelation adds another layer of intrigue to the already unpredictable future of the once-feared "Bronze Bomber."
