When Deontay Wilder eventually retires from boxing, he will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most devastating punchers in the history of the heavyweight division. His impressive record boasts 43 victories, with an astonishing 42 of those coming by way of knockout.
Throughout his career, Wilder has delivered numerous memorable and chilling finishes. Notable opponents such as Artur Szpilka, Dominic Breazeale, and Luis Ortiz have all fallen victim to his devastating power, succumbing to a single punch.
However, among Wilder’s many knockout victories, one particular fight stands out above the rest: his showdown with Sergey Liakhovich. At the time, Deontay was establishing himself as a rising contender, boasting a flawless knockout record of 28-0 (28 KOs).
Liakhovich, a former WBO heavyweight champion, entered the ring with a respectable record of 25-5. But was perceived as a gatekeeper in the division.
Despite Liakhovich having never been stopped before the ninth round in any of his fights, Wilder swiftly put an end to their encounter. With a ferocious right hand, the American unleashed a devastating blow that sent his opponent crashing to the canvas.
The scene took a worrisome turn as Liakhovich began twitching and shaking, prompting the referee to promptly halt the bout.
Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, Deontay immediately ceased his celebrations upon realizing that his opponent required urgent medical attention.
The doctors attended to Liakhovich, and fortunately, the twitching subsided shortly after. He was able to regain composure, sit back on his stool, and eventually leave the ring under his own power.
Deontay Wilder is not one to be scoffed at
This remarkable knockout victory against Liakhovich serves as a testament to Wilder’s formidable punching power and the impact he has had on the sport of boxing.
đ ON THIS DAY: Wilder blows away Liakhovichđ„
âȘBack in 2013 @BronzeBomber showed his devastating power again as he stopped former world champ Siarhei Liakhovich in one round đ€đŁ pic.twitter.com/LmQlo0zI6f
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) August 9, 2021
âI saw it afterward on the replay on the big screen when I looked back and I saw it on the monitor.
âThatâs when my smile went into a frown, and I was concerned and I was worried, because that was a scary moment.
âWhen I saw that, I was like, âOh, man,â and I was saying prayers for him.
âTheyâre saying that heâs going to be okay, and I heard that heâs going to be in the hospital for a couple of days, but that was a scary moment.
âJust to see his eyes roll into the back of his head and him going into a seizure like that, and he had a concussion as well, that was scary. Very scary.â
Following his recovery, Liakhovich took a rather unusual step by filing a protest with the California Commission, alleging that Deontay Wilder’s knockout punch had landed behind his head, leading to an unfair result.
Liakhovich’s advisor and attorney, Anthony Cardinale, pursued a no-contest verdict on the grounds of “illegal punches.”
However, the protest ultimately amounted to nothing as it did not result in any changes to the fight’s outcome. In response to the protest, Wilder humorously remarked, “I must have hit him harder than I thought, he must still have a concussion.”
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