Former WBC Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder Arrested on Felony Gun Charges: What This Means for His Future in Boxing

The Former WBC heavyweight boxing champion Deontay Wilder has found himself in trouble with the law. The 37-year-old was arrested on Tuesday morning in LA and charged with felony possession of a concealed weapon. Police had stopped Wilder for his tinted windows, but upon further investigation, they discovered a 9mm gun in his Rolls-Royce. TMZ Sports reported on the incident, and it remains to be seen how this arrest will affect Wilder’s future in boxing.

Wilder, who is known as the “Bronze Bomber,” was recently in talks to fight fellow heavyweight Anthony Joshua and was teasing a potential boxing match against former UFC champion Francis Ngannou. Unfortunately, this latest incident could put those plans on hold. Wilder was released on bond later that day, but the court will still have to settle his case.

This isn’t the first time Wilder has had a run-in with the law. In 2017, he was arrested for marijuana possession, and in 2020, he was accused of assaulting a costume designer during a promotional event for his rematch with Tyson Fury. The latter incident resulted in a lawsuit that is still ongoing.

Despite his legal troubles, Wilder remains one of the most formidable boxers in the sport. He held the WBC heavyweight title from 2015 to 2020, making 10 successful defenses, and has a record of 43-2-1, with 42 KOs. He is known for his exceptional punching power, having knocked out every opponent he has defeated. His knockout-to-win percentage stands at an impressive 97.67%, with 20 knockouts in the first round.

Wilder took up boxing at the age of 20 and won a bronze medal in the heavyweight division at the 2008 Olympics. This led to his nickname of “The Bronze Bomber,” which he coined after Joe Louis, who was known as “The Brown Bomber.”

It’s unfortunate that Wilder’s latest arrest has once again put his future in boxing in doubt. He is undoubtedly a talented fighter, but he needs to stay out of trouble if he wants to continue his career. We will have to wait and see how this situation plays out in the coming weeks.