Premier Boxing Champions is in prime time on FOX tonight when Deontay Wilder (37-0, 36 KOs) defends his WBC World Heavyweight title against upstart Gerald Washington (18-0-1, 12 KOs) at Legacy Arena in Wilder’s hometown of Birmingham, Ala.
In the undercard, Tony Harrison (24-1, 20 KOs) takes on Jarrett Hurd (19-0, 13 KOs) for the vacant IBF World Super Welterweight belt. That’s right. Two title fights with adult-sized men who can knock each other’s heads off. All for free in prime time. Not too bad.
As always, scroll on down for the live blog. Keep reading for the press release from the PBC.
Wilder eager to resume pursuit of greatness in hometown title defense
Deontay Wilder has aspirations to be the greatest heavyweight of his generation. So who better to model himself after than the Greatest Of All Time?
When Wilder defeated Bermane Stiverne in Las Vegas to become a heavyweight champion on January 17, 2015, the achievement also coincided with Muhammad Ali’s 73rd birthday.
Now, the 31-year-old Tuscaloosa, Alabama, native will look to share another significant date with Ali on Saturday night when he puts his world title on the line in his home state against unbeaten Gerald Washington (18-0-1, 12 KOs) at Birmingham’s Legacy Arena (FOX, 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT).
It was on February 25, 1964, that Ali—still fighting as Cassius Clay—shook up the world and became heavyweight champion by stopping Sonny Liston in six rounds in Miami Beach.
In preparing to defend his title for the fifth time since beating Stiverne—and for the fourth time in Alabama—Deontay Wilder (37-0, 36 KOs) hopes to follow the example set by “The Greatest” and not only inspire through his athletic accomplishments but also by his social activism.
“I structured my career [after] Muhammad Ali, a real-life hero, my all-time favorite and an idol of mine,” Wilder said. “I embrace the opportunity to be a great champion, leader and role model not only measured by what I do inside the ring, but outside of it.”
The 6-foot-7 Wilder graduated in 2004 from Tuscaloosa’s Central High School, where he played both football and basketball. He dreamed of playing either sport for the University of Alabama, but those plans were dashed when he became a father at the age of 19 to his oldest daughter, Naieya, who was born with spina bifida, a congenital spine defect.
That led Wilder to get involved with charities such as the Spina Bifida Association, the Make-A-Wish foundation and the American Heart Association.
“I have four beautiful, intelligent children. I love them to death,” Wilder said. “I am doing this for them. Daddy don’t want to be in boxing for long. When it’s time for me to leave, I won’t be looking back.”
Wilder took up boxing shortly after Naieya was born and progressed quickly through the amateur ranks. He won the Olympic Trials in just his 21st amateur fight and earned a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Games.
Afterward, Wilder adopted the nickname “The Bronze Bomber,” which derived from the moniker for another Alabama-born heavyweight king, Joe Louis, who was “The Brown Bomber.”
The fights are on your local FOX affiliate at 8 p.m. Watch them with me.
Premier Boxing Champions is in prime time on FOX tonight when Deontay Wilder (37-0, 36 KOs) defends his WBC World Heavyweight title against upstart Gerald Washington (18-0-1, 12 KOs) at Legacy Arena in Wilder’s hometown of Birmingham, Ala.
In the undercard, Tony Harrison (24-1, 20 KOs) takes on Jarrett Hurd (19-0, 13 KOs) for the vacant IBF World Super Welterweight belt. That’s right. Two title fights with adult-sized men who can knock each other’s heads off. All for free in prime time. Not too bad.
The fights are on your local FOX affiliate at 8 p.m. Watch them with me.
