Ex-heavyweight ruler Deontay Wilder would get approval for a WBC bridgerweight title shot, World Boxing Information has been advised.
WBN requested World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman about Wilder’s potential request to take a crack at present champion Lawrence Okolie. The query got here after hypothesis over Wilder’s future within the sport with out the possibility to combat for the game’s prime prize.
It’s no secret Wilder could make 224 kilos and even drop down as little as cruiserweight. Subsequently, “The Bronze Bomber” has two choices for a championship alternative if he decides to proceed boxing.
Attributable to Wilder’s standing with the sanctioning physique, the eligibility to develop into a two-weight world titleholder, which Sulaiman would give the inexperienced mild to in both division, might be an excessive amount of for the American slugger to cross up.
Okolie has a compulsory to take care of in opposition to Kevin Lerena first. Nonetheless, as soon as that’s within the books or if a step-aside was agreed, Wilder might instantly contest one other world title.
Requested in regards to the combat, Sulaiman advised WBN completely, “Lawrence Okolie is our champion and has the necessary combat versus interim champion Kevin Lerena. Nonetheless, if Lawrence Okolie and Deontay Wilder attain an settlement, it might be a risk.”
Coach Joe Gallagher, who oversaw Okolie’s victory over Lukasz Rozanski to say the inexperienced and gold belt, was on board with the Wilder combat within the ring after the ultimate bell,
“There’s a great unification combat there, and there are smaller heavyweights,” Gallagher advised Sky Sports activities. “Deontay Wilder is just fifteen and a half [stones], and the weights of heavyweights, Lawrence is there in the intervening time.
“I’d wish to see him unify this with the WBA championship after which transfer into the heavyweights,” he added.
Analyst George Groves added, “I feel, possibly, Wilder is the type of character who goes, ‘I’m such an enormous title, I’m a former heavyweight world champion, I can’t see me simply getting a shot at a heavyweight world title any time quickly, however why not develop into a two-weight world champion by preventing at bridgerweight?’”
Wilder, ever preventing decrease than heavyweight, stays an outsider in the intervening time. The Tuscaloosa native has not indicated that he’d ever ponder shifting all the way down to bridgerweight. Nonetheless, the 38-year-old did present curiosity in preventing at cruiserweight earlier than the inception of the in-between weight class.
Subsequently, if the appropriate provide comes alongside, probably from Turki Alalshikh, Wilder could have yet one more shot at glory.
Learn all articles and unique interviews by Phil Jay. Be taught extra in regards to the creator, skilled boxing author, and World Boxing Information Editor since 2010. Comply with on Twitter @PhilJWBN.
