Deontay ‘Bronze Bomber’ Wilder aims to test KO power in heavyweight crown defence

Undefeated World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder will learn on Saturday if his surgically repaired right hand still has the knockout power that helped make him a feared fighter.

The 31-year-old American enters the ring before a hometown crowd in Birmingham, Alabama, against undefeated compatriot Gerald Washington to defend his crown for the fifth time.

But it’s the first since Wilder broke his right hand and suffered a torn right bicep muscle in an eighth-round stoppage of US veteran Chris Arreola last July.

“I’m looking forward to testing out my hands and my bicep and I am looking forward to bringing more skills to the table with the left hook and stuff like that,” Wilder said.

“From the time I got into the ring, I wanted to focus on the aspects of my game that needed improvement, not my injuries. I knew everything would take care of itself if I kept working hard. There’s enough on your mind in the ring without worrying about an injury.