Deontay Wilder is an American professional boxer known for his impressive knockout power and for being a former WBC heavyweight champion. Born on October 22, 1985, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Wilder began boxing relatively late at the age of 20. Despite this, he quickly rose through the ranks due to his athleticism and punching power, earning the nickname “The Bronze Bomber,” a nod to his bronze medal in the heavyweight division at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Wilder made his professional debut in November 2008 and swiftly built an impressive record, largely through knockout victories. On January 17, 2015, he won the WBC heavyweight title by defeating Bermane Stiverne, becoming the first American to win a heavyweight title in nearly a decade. Wilder successfully defended his title multiple times, with notable defenses including a rematch against Stiverne and a fight against Luis Ortiz.
One of the most significant rivalries in Wilder’s career is with British boxer Tyson Fury. Their first fight, on December 1, 2018, ended in a controversial split draw, with Wilder retaining his title. The rematch took place on February 22, 2020, where Fury won by technical knockout, ending Wilder’s reign as WBC champion. They fought for a third time on October 9, 2021, in which Fury won again by knockout in the eleventh round.
In Wilder’s recent fight on June 1, 2024, Zhilei Zhang defeated him by a fifth-round technical knockout. The bout, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, saw Zhang applying effective pressure and landing powerful shots, leading to the referee stopping the fight in the fifth round. This victory marks one of the most significant wins in Zhang’s career and possibly signifies a major setback for Wilder’s future in boxing.
After the fight, according to TMZ Sports, Wilder’s longtime fiancee Telli Swift accused him of abuse and has requested a restraining order.
In her application for the order, Swift accused Wilder of choking her “at least five times” since 2018. She also stated the 38-year-old heavyweight spit on her several other times … and claimed he once shoved her face in a pillow in a fit of rage for so long, she “nearly suffocated.”
She claimed in the TRO application that Wilder constantly ridiculed her, threatened to destroy her belongings, and expected her to have intercourse with him “three times a day.”
Most recently, on April 15, she claimed he had her thrown out of their Atlanta residence — this despite her being in a fragile state due to recent invasive surgery.
Swift — who got engaged to the fighter in 2018 — stated she’s been living in the couple’s LA-area home with their 6-year-old daughter since … but claimed Wilder has been using the home’s surveillance system to spy on her. She added she’s worried Wilder could get violent with her when he ultimately made his way back to the home following his fight with Zhang in Saudi Arabia.
These are very serious accusations against the Bronze Bomber it should be noted that Swift has not went to the police with her accusations.
Flip the pages for photos so Telli Swift.
