Deontay Wilder

Deontay Leshun Wilder (born October 22, 1985) is an American professional boxer and the WBC heavyweight champion. As an amateur he won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics, which led to his nickname of "The Bronze Bomber". Wilder coined the name after Joe Louis, who was also from Alabama, and who was known by the nickname "The Brown Bomber". Wilder has a very erratic and explosive style, generating extreme punching power in his right hand which has accounted for most of his knockouts—18 of them within the first round.

Amateur career

Wilder started boxing in October 2005. By 2007 he upset the favorites to win both the National Golden Gloves and the US championships at 201 lb (91 kg).

At the Golden Gloves he defeated highly touted cadet world champion Isiah Thomas - a southpaw from Detroit - and David Thompson, of Brooklyn, N.Y in the finals. At the U.S. championship he defeated Quantis Graves and won the final 31-15 over southpaw James Zimmerman of San Jose, Calif.

At the Olympic trials he beat Graves twice more and won the Olympic trials in only 21 bouts. Early in 2008 he scored a career-best win by edging out World Gold medalist and future Olympic champion Rakhim Chakhiyev in Russia. He qualified for the Olympics by beating Deivis Julio 6:5 Jorge Quinones from Ecuador on double countback and Brazilian Rafael Lima 6:5 at the qualifier.