FORMER WBC CHAMP DEONTAY WILDER RANKS HIS TOUGHEST OPPONENTS OF ALL TIME
Deontay Wilder shocks fans by naming Johann Duhaupas as his hardest opponent, bypassing Tyson Fury. Discover his truth on boxing.
In a chat with Vegas Insider, Deontay Wilder, the former WBC world heavyweight champ, shared who landed the hardest punch he's ever felt. Surprisingly, it wasn't Tyson Fury, his biggest rival.
The Bronze Bomber caught everyone off guard by saying it was Johann Duhaupas. He said, “That dude hit me so hard, I still think about it! I swear, he had rocks in his gloves!”
“I'm really into energy these days. That might change, but right now, when I think about the hardest hit, I remember Johann Duhaupas, that guy from France. Every time he'd jab me, I was thinking, 'Man, this guy hits hard.' I was like, 'I can't keep taking these jabs!' He's the only fighter who made me think like that, like, 'Dang, that hurt.' That's all I really remember. I always give him props for that. So, with respect to him, I still think about him.
Wilder also talked about his dream opponent:
If he could face any fighter in their prime, he said, “It's always been Joe Louis. I got into boxing because of him, and my nickname comes from him. Joe Louis was from Alabama, 'The Brown Bomber.' I'm from Alabama, won a bronze medal, and became 'The Bronze Bomber.' Pitting the Brown Bomber against the Bronze Bomber just sounds right.
He added, There are so many great fighters. I always liked the idea of fighting Evander Holyfield, one of the best. He didn't get the credit he deserved.
When asked about the current U.S. heavyweight boxing scene, Wilder said:
“When I'm boxing, I'm all in. But when I'm not, I'm out. I don't watch much, and I don't go to a lot of fights. I'm busy with a lot of stuff. I wear many hats. I used to be really into sports, but not so much anymore.
He said, “Sometimes when you see how things really are behind the scenes, it's not as interesting. I know the truth. When you don't know anything, you're not surprised by anything. But when you know what's really going on, it takes the fun out of it. At one point, I didn't love boxing as much because of stuff I knew was true.
“Fans might see a different story, but they don't have the inside scoop. That's why I say certain things, and people react. They think I'm making excuses. I always say my truth is others' excuses. If you want to see it that way, go ahead. I've told you the truth, and the truth sets you free.”
NEW ERA: JON JONES EYES MVP JUMP AS UFC RELATIONSHIP HITS BREAKING POINT
Jon Jones hits back at the UFC, demanding his contract be terminated to pursue new opportunities at Most Valuable Promotions.
Jake Paul says he’s ready to promote Jon Jones if Dana White lets him walk away from the UFC.
Jones wanted a spot on the big UFC White House card in June. He hinted that the promotion even reached out about an appearance. Most people thought they’d finally line him up against Alex Pereira, who just moved up to heavyweight, but Pereira’s fighting Cyril Gane instead.
Then Dana White went public, basically saying Jones is done with the UFC and retired from MMA. That didn’t sit well with Jones. He fired back, demanding a release so he could look at other opportunities.
If he gets out of that ironclad contract, Jake Paul’s new MMA project with Most Valuable Promotions is a real option. Paul’s already signed Jones’ long-time rival, Francis Ngannou, who’s set to fight Philipe Lins on their debut card in May. Now, Paul says he’d happily work with Jones too.
At a press conference, Paul put it out there: “Jon, you’re always welcome to come over to MVP. We’ll get it popping, and we’ll get you paid what you deserve.”
Honestly, Paul trying to lure Jones over feels possible, especially since Jones has wanted to fight Ngannou for years. The fight has been teased both inside and outside the UFC, but it has never materialised.
Paul’s clearly gunning to shake up the UFC’s grip on MMA, so who knows, an offer to Jones could be coming soon.
But can Jones actually fight again? Lately, he’s talked about hip problems that have made people doubt his future. He hasn’t fought since defending his title in November 2024 against Stipe Miocic. Still, he says the injury won’t stop him.
On social media, Jones said, “Yeah, I’ve got arthritis in my hip, and it hurts, but that doesn’t mean I can’t fight. So let me get this straight: if I took the lowball offer, my hip would magically be fine, and I’d be on the White House card? That makes no sense. I even got stem cell treatment last week to be ready, and training camp was supposed to start today. I was getting prepared. If the UFC really thinks I’m finished, I’m asking to be released from my contract right now. No more spin, no more games. Thanks to the real fans who get it.”
REVENGE MISSION: EDDIE HEARN SIGNS UFC CHAMP TOM ASPINALL AFTER LOSING CONOR BENN
Eddie Hearn strikes back: Read about Tom Aspinall signing with Matchroom, Conor Benn’s $15M Zuffa deal, and the Dana White rivalry.
Dana White, the boss at UFC and the man behind Zuffa Boxing, just snagged Conor Benn away from Eddie Hearn. Although if we’re being honest, Benn did a lot of the heavy lifting himself with that $15 million price tag.
White was quick to celebrate, maybe a little too loudly, especially on the UFC side, but Hearn didn’t let him have the spotlight for long. Not even a week later, Hearn fired back by announcing he’d signed UFC heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall to the Matchroom Talent Agency.
This back-and-forth between Hearn and White is turning into one of the more interesting rivalries in combat sports right now.
Zuffa Boxing’s move to grab Benn for a one-fight, $15 million deal definitely made waves. Benn, after all, spent ten years fighting under Hearn’s banner before jumping ship. Hearn hasn’t been shy about how much the move stings, especially since he’s been trading barbs with White nonstop.
But Hearn’s not just sitting around feeling sorry for himself. He went public on Instagram, welcoming Aspinall to the Matchroom squad. “Welcome to the team, UFC Heavyweight Champ @tomaspinallofficial,” Hearn posted. “Time to get what’s yours @matchroomtalentagency.”
It’s just the latest shot in their ongoing feud. White’s been out there calling Hearn soft for getting emotional about Benn leaving. Hearn, never one to back down, fired back in an interview, saying White doesn’t care about his fighters at all.
“I hear people’s comments, like Dana White calling me names and Terence Crawford asking if I actually care about these guys,” Hearn said. “I’m not saying I’m perfect, but we’re not like Dana White and his crew. They don’t give a damn about the fighters.
“Have you ever seen Dana White show any emotion when someone wins? He just hands over the belt, does a press conference, then heads home to his mansion with a cigar and a glass of whisky, thinking, ‘Life is sweet; we just made $800 million this year.’”
So what do you think about Tom Aspinall teaming up with Hearn’s agency? Is this a good move for Aspinall, or is it going to cause problems down the line? Let’s hear your thoughts.
