Deontay Wilder was the Cinderella story of amateur boxing, mounting from oblivion to not only winning the National Golden Gloves and US Championships, but to earn a Bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China, the United States’ only boxing medal.
But Wilder’s captivating story doesn’t begin there; it begins in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where he was a stellar athlete in high school who had the chance to play college football and basketball. But his main concern were elsewhere, mainly with his daughter Naieya, who he worked two jobs to support. Times were tough, particularly considering that Naieya was born with spinal bifida and required additional medical care.
So Wilder turned to boxing in 2005, knowing that his talents would ultimately serve him well. And he was right. With just 14 bouts under his belt, Wilder roared through the National Golden Gloves and US Championships in 2007, and he eventually won the Olympic trials with just 21 total amateur bouts. His doubtful run continued in this summer’s Beijing Games, where he won two bouts before losing a semifinal decision to Italy’s Clemente Russo. Back home with a Bronze medal in his hand, Wilder got ready for the next chapter of this amazing story, teaming up with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions to help him on his road to gold as a professional.
But Wilder’s captivating story doesn’t begin there; it begins in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where he was a stellar athlete in high school who had the chance to play college football and basketball. But his main concern were elsewhere, mainly with his daughter Naieya, who he worked two jobs to support. Times were tough, particularly considering that Naieya was born with spinal bifida and required additional medical care.
So Wilder turned to boxing in 2005, knowing that his talents would ultimately serve him well. And he was right. With just 14 bouts under his belt, Wilder roared through the National Golden Gloves and US Championships in 2007, and he eventually won the Olympic trials with just 21 total amateur bouts. His doubtful run continued in this summer’s Beijing Games, where he won two bouts before losing a semifinal decision to Italy’s Clemente Russo. Back home with a Bronze medal in his hand, Wilder got ready for the next chapter of this amazing story, teaming up with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions to help him on his road to gold as a professional.
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