Deontay Wilder: 'I am the legitimate heavyweight champion of the world'
BROOKLYN, N.Y. - Wladimir Klitschko is recognized as the heavyweight champion, with his three belts and countless defenses, but Deontay Wilder doesn't see it that way.
The way Wilder views it, his WBC belt, which most fighters relish over the other three belts, is more valuable than Wlad's IBF/WBA/WBO belts, and Wilder should be viewed as the man in boxing's glamour division.
Wilder (34-0, 33 KOs) makes the second defense of his title Saturday against lightly regarded Frenchman Johann Duhaupas, and will do so in his hometown of Birmingham, Ala. The bout will also mark NBC's first heavyweight title bout in prime time in 30 years.
"The Bronze Bomber" has mostly feasted on weak opposition, but he believes he is the best heavyweight in the world, and not Klitschko, a surefire future Hall of Famer.
"I got what people want, I got the WBC belt," Wilder told a small group of reporters recently. "I have the belt all the greats have had. That's why they want what I have, that's why Klitschko wants what I have. I've got that belt. So I am the legitimate heavyweight champion of the world."
MORE: Deontay Wilder set for second title defense in sweet home Alabama
Wilder hopes to fight Klitschko at some point to settle the debate once and for all, but when that time comes is anyone's guess. The 2008 Olympic bronze medalist will have to make a mandatory defense against Alexander Povetkin next year. Povetkin is considered the best heavyweight in the division without a belt. Klitschko was slated to fight Tyson Fury next month, but withdrew Friday with a calf injury.
Klitschko is a massive draw in Germany, where the Ukrainian resides, but Wilder has no designs on traveling to Europe for the proposed summit meeting.
"We not going nowhere, we're going to stay here in America, we're going to bring (Klitschko) here," Wilder demanded. " … That was one of my goals in boxing, to be the first American undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. So I won't rest until I achieve all the belts. People won't be confused anywhere about all these belts, we can have one champion, once and for all."
The 29-year-old thought Klitschko "looked real old" in a win over Bryant Jennings in Apri, and believes the time could be right to get the 39-year-old in the ring. Wilder has been sharply criticized for his level of opposition, but says he isn't worried about remarks that handlers are protecting him right now.
"I still wouldn't mind fighting Jennings as well, too," he said. "We're putting together a lot of great fights for the fans. You can't please everyone. That's an impossible mission; no matter who I fight, someone is going to have a problem with it. … I don't believe in ratings, I don't believe in records."
If and when a bout is consummated against Klitschko to crown an undisputed champion, it's safe to say no one will have a problem with it.