Deontay Wilder has admitted he is thinking about hanging up his gloves after his knockout defeat to Tyson Fury.
The former WBC heavyweight champion failed to regain his title at the T-Mobile Arena in October, despite having Fury on the canvas twice.
Just as he did in their first fight in 2018, ‘The Gypsy King’ climbed off the canvas twice and refused to lie down – this time stopping Wilder with an emphatic 11th round finish to conclude the trilogy.
‘The Bronze Bomber’ tentatively hinted at making a comeback in the summer of 2022, with fellow former world champ Andy Ruiz Jr touted as a possible opponent.
However, six weeks after turning 36, Wilder has now admitted to being at a ‘crossroads’ with his career and his family life.
“It’s mixed feelings because ultimately I have accomplished all my goals in this sport. I told my daughter when she was one that I’d be a champion and I’d be able to support her beyond her belief,” he told Kevin Hart on an episode of Cold As Balls on the Laugh Out Loud Network.
“I’ve done that. There’s a lot of things that I’ve accomplished that I feel I have to prove to anyone because I’ve already proven [myself].
“Should I push forward? Should I give it a go one more time? Or should I just retire and focus on the other things that I already have, other things that I want to get into?”
Before first fighting Fury in 2018, Wilder was viewed by many in the States and beyond as perhaps the most dangerous heavyweight champion in history given his ferocious power and the fact he had knocked out every man he had ever faced.
Yet the battles with Fury showcased his warrior heart and desire, but exposed his lack of technical fundamentals somewhat, with the Brit amending the mistakes from their draw in 2018 to put Wilder on the back foot.