Deontay Wilder's (43-4-1, 42 KOs) trainer, Malik Scott, has responded to rumors about a potential return to the ring by legendary Ukrainian heavyweight Wladimir Klitschko and suggested his fighter as a prime opponent for the "Dr. Steelhammer."
"Wladimir Klitschko is a legend. His name carries so much weight. Just the brand of Wladimir Klitschko alone commands attention. If these rumors of his return are true, then his name absolutely deserves consideration," Scott said.
He continued, "If something like this happens—Deontay Wilder versus Wladimir Klitschko—it would go down as one of the biggest heavyweight fights in history. However, I would be very surprised if Wladimir comes back. Fighters like Vitali [Klitschko], Wladimir, and Lennox [Lewis] are the kind who retire and stay retired. Even if he does return, he won’t be a new face in the division, but his presence will still be impactful."
Klitschko, now 47, last fought in 2017, losing to Anthony Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) via an 11th-round TKO. Meanwhile, Wilder suffered a fifth-round TKO loss to Zhilei Zhang (27-2-1, 22 KOs) in June.
Whether Klitschko’s return materializes or not, the prospect of such a monumental clash continues to stir excitement in the boxing world.