Deontay Wilder's title defense was all about his love for Alabama
Deontay Wilder stands over Eric Molina after knocking him down Saturday, shouting "Welcome to Alabama!" (Photo: Marvin Gentry, Paste BN Sports)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - For heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, Saturday night's somewhat surprisingly hard-fought, ninth-round TKO victory against a game Eric Molina was all about his love affair with the state of Alabama.
Wilder, 29, a former U.S. Olympic bronze medalist, helped to create the Alabama Athletic Commission a few years ago with just this in mind: He wanted to bring a big prize fight to a state that has had no professional sports - unless you count the Crimson Tide football team, of course - and did that as soon as he won the world title in January.
Throughout the week, Wilder kept coming back to the importance of this fight to the state, and the history he was making. After defeating Molina, the "Bronze Bomber" returned to the subject.
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"I keep emphasizing the history that was made tonight in the state of Alabama," Wilder (34-0, 33 KOs) said during his post-fight news conference after his first title defense. "It was huge. We brought boxing here, and I can say we finally got our first professional sport.
"I'm looking forward to doing this again and again and again. It's definitely not going to be a one-hit wonder. We're going to keep doing it. This is my home territory right here."
The sold-out Bartow Arena on the campus of the University of Alabama-Birmingham was about as loud as nearly 10,000 fans could make it. They roared with every punch and chanted his name throughout the fight. In a city whose past had been known for its racial divisiveness, this was a predominantly white, yet racially mixed crowd coming together to cheer for a black champion, and it left Wilder feeling pride for his state.
"I knew the people would show up. I get a lot of love from Tuscaloosa, that's where I'm from. But I represent the state of Alabama," Wilder said. "I can't go anywhere without hearing Alabama, and I try to represent the whole state. Just to see that atmosphere, and the thundering crowd, it was a wonderful feeling.
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"Now let's go on to an even bigger arena. Like I said this is my home territory, we're going to look forward to many fights in the state of Alabama, bringing the revenue here to our home state, and bringing the world to our culture to see what we have to offer."
Molina's promoter, the legendary Don King, who visited the state for the first time for this fight, praised the city.
"We have to tip our hats to Deontay and Alabama for bringing Birmingham back into the forefront of the world in a positive light," he said. "It hasn't had this kind of PR job of positiveness in 60 years. Everyone around the world should take note that Birmingham is back, and there ain't no stopping it now."
Molina, a big Texan who was trying to become the first heavyweight champion of Mexican descent, said he could feel the power of the crowd.
"It was intense and something I'll cherish also, just to be there and feel the pride that Alabama showed for Wilder," he said. "They said it was going to be hostile territory down here, but I never felt that. Everybody welcomed me and my team with hospitality.
It was definitely a great experience to be here."
While many in the media felt this was going to be a quick stoppage for Wilder, a true knockout artist, against a little-known fighter whose only two losses were by first-round knockouts - including his first professional fight - Wilder wanted to see the fight go longer. And a determined Molina made sure that happened, even after being knocked down three times.
"He came to fight, and I love that and respect that," Wilder said of Molina (23-3, 17 KOs). "The state didn't need a quick knockout. . . . I don't care about going the rounds anymore. If I have to go rounds, that's good. It feels good to go rounds and give the people something to see. Tonight we gave the people something to see, and they loved it. And we're definitely going to do it again."
Wilder also talked about being the first American heavyweight champion in nearly a decade.
"I think about it all the time, about representing America as a whole," he said. "It's a privilege and an honor, and it makes me happy to do the things I'm doing because I want to put boxing back at the top like it's supposed to be."