DEONTAY WILDER can certainly lay claim to being the most destructive puncher in heavyweight history.
With 41 knockouts in his 44 fights, where 42 have been won, the American powerhouse has a 93 per cent KO ratio.
What Wilder, an Olympic bronze medallist, may lack in boxing fundamentals, he sure makes up for in explosiveness.
And despite being outclassed by Tyson Fury in their rematch last year, the Bronze Bomber can never be counted out so long as he is standing.
Ahead of his trilogy bout with Fury on Saturday night in Las Vegas, SunSport runs down five of Wilder’s most brutal KOs.
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Artur Szpilka, January 2016
Wilder was making the third defence of the WBC title when he made an example out of Polish southpaw Szpilka.
In round nine, a massive right hook sent the challenger in a heap on the floor, unconscious with his legs folded.
Szpilka was immediately treated by ringside medical personnel and Wilder later revealed he feared he had KILLED his opponent.
Wilder told WNSP-FM 105.5: “I thought he died for a couple of seconds. I really did. I didn’t see him moving or breathing.”
Bermane Stiverne, November 2017
Wilder had won the title from Stiverne in 2015, the only time he had gone to distance until that point.
And after Luis Ortiz was withdrawn from their initial fight, Wilder was given the chance to rectify that when Stiverne filled in on late notice.
The Canadian was three times floored within three minutes and the fight was stopped.
The final knockdown saw Stiverne splattered against the ropes, after a four punch combination, on his knees and out for the count.
Luis Ortiz 1, March 2018
Cuban Ortiz handed Wilder his first real test, and scare, after picking himself up from the canvas and hurting the Bronze Bomber.
Wilder escaped defeat by the skin of his teeth at the end of round seven but recovered to get the job done.
Ortiz was dropped twice in the tenth with a brutal uppercut closing the show.
It was the first time Wilder really had to battle back from adversity and prove he can carry his power into the later rounds.
Dominic Breazeale, May 2019
Wilder was in talks to fight Breazeale for years before it finally came to fruition and ended before it even began.
A massive right hand in the first round rocked Breazeale’s head back and left him flat on his back.
Wilder warned Fury the hatred he feels towards him is the same he felt towards Breazeale – and we know how that ended.
He said: “Hate is a motivation to destroy, that’s what the devil does every day. I have never felt this way about any opponent before. Dominic Breazeale was the last one I disliked most.”
Luis Ortiz 1, November 2019
Wilder turned down a three-fight DAZN deal in 2019 with the view to fight Anthony Joshua, to instead stay loyal to Premier Boxing Champions.
And he promised Ortiz a rematch after their close affair and managed to top his previous KO.
Ortiz had won the majority of the seven rounds up until a right hand bounced off the top of his head and turned the lights off.
It was so stunning, reporter Will Guillory tweeted: “Was that his soul leaving his body?”
