Deontay Wilder is reportedly set to return to the ring after a string of career-defining losses. While a fight against Stephan Shaw, a heavyweight looking to climb the ranks, was heavily rumoured for April 2025, subsequent reports from Stephan Shaw himself indicated that these negotiations were “smoke and mirrors” and the bout did not materialize.
Deontay Wilder comes off a brutal stoppage defeat to Zhilei Zhang on the Matchroom vs Queensberry 5v5 card, with ‘The Bronze Bomber’ on Team Matchroom. This loss, which occurred on June 1, 2024, saw Zhang finish Wilder with a pair of big right hands in the fifth round, sending him to the canvas. Wilder beat the count, but a stumble when instructed to walk to the referee led to the bout being halted. Wilder has fought five times since 2019, winning only two of those – a first-round knockout of Robert Helenius and more recently, a TKO victory over Tyrrell Anthony Herndon.
Deontay Wilder’s Tumultuous Recent Form
Since losing to Tyson Fury twice, Wilder’s career has been marked by significant challenges. He suffered a near-shut-out decision loss to Joseph Parker on December 23, 2023, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where Parker dominated the former WBC champion throughout, winning all three scorecards (118-111, 118-110, and 120-108). Wilder admitted his “timing was off a little bit” and that Parker “did a great job of avoiding and ducking” his punches. This was followed by the aforementioned fifth-round TKO to Zhilei Zhang. The once feared puncher has not looked his best in recent outings, though has assured his fans and boxing media that he is not retiring yet.
Wilder now sits at a professional record of 45-4-1, with 43 of his wins coming by knockout. His best win remains against Luis Ortiz, a formidable opponent he defeated twice. Following the back-to-back losses to Parker and Zhang, Wilder made a return to the ring on June 27, 2025, securing a seventh-round technical knockout victory over Tyrrell Anthony Herndon in Wichita, Kansas, USA. This win marked a crucial step in his attempt to regain momentum. He then followed this up with a 12-round split decision victory over veteran British heavyweight Derek Chisora on April 4, 2026, at the O2 Arena in London, United Kingdom, improving his record and demonstrating his continued presence in the division.
The rumoured Deontay Wilder next fight against Stephan Shaw in April 2025 did not come to fruition. Stephan Shaw himself clarified in January 2025 that while he was interested in the fight, the reports of negotiations were “all nonsense” and “smoke and mirrors.” This means the fight was never officially confirmed or announced, and Wilder went on to face other opponents.
Who is Stephan Shaw Now?
Stephan Shaw is a 21-2 heavyweight from Missouri, USA. In his amateur career, Shaw became a 4x National Champion, and boasted a record of 51-9 before turning over to the professional ranks.
In his professional career, Shaw has two losses. The first was a close points loss to Efe Ajagba, a unanimous decision defeat over 10 rounds on January 14, 2023. Judges scored the bout identically at 96-94 in favor of Ajagba. His second loss came via TKO to Joseph Goodall on July 22, 2023. This fight ended in the sixth round when Shaw was dropped twice, leading to his corner throwing in the towel. The circumstances of the Goodall fight were noted by some as “strange,” with Shaw appearing to allow Goodall to land shots without adequate defense.
Since his loss to Goodall, Stephan Shaw has actively rebuilt his record. He secured a first-round TKO victory over Brandon Johnson on March 15, 2024, followed by another first-round TKO against Jason Bergman on May 24, 2024. Most recently, Shaw achieved a first-round knockout against Raphael Akpejiori on April 12, 2025, further adding to his impressive knockout ratio. Stephan Shaw has won 16 of his 21 fights by knockout. Shaw’s last outing saw the Missouri-native face a 27-21-2 opponent, whom he quickly stopped in the first round.
Wilder’s Path Forward and Division Implications
The anticipated Wilder vs. Shaw fight in April 2025, which was rumoured to be available on BLK Prime, ultimately did not happen. Instead, Wilder has continued to fight, demonstrating a desire to remain relevant in the heavyweight division despite recent setbacks. Wilder has made no mention of changing trainer, despite losing 3 of his 4 fights since appointing Malik Scott as his coach, with Scott notably telling Wilder during the Zhang fight, “I don’t want you to be a punching bag.”
Wilder’s recent victories over Herndon and Chisora signal his intent to climb back into contention. After his win against Derek Chisora, Wilder expressed interest in potential matchups against Anthony Joshua, Agit Kabayel, and Moses Itauma, indicating he is still aiming for significant fights. Though the opposition in his comeback fights may not have been Joseph Parker or Tyson Fury, these wins were crucial for ‘The Bronze Bomber’ to regain confidence and re-establish himself. The heavyweight division remains dynamic, and a resurgent Wilder, even at 40 years old, still possesses the one-punch knockout power that makes him a threat to any opponent. This very well could have been the end of ‘The Bronze Bomber’ had he not secured recent victories, but his determination suggests he is not ready to retire just yet.
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