Trainer: Wilder not retiring, 'still has a bright future'

Former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder's boxing career will go on, according to his trainer Malik Scott.

"He'll be back. Deontay will fight again," Scott told Genting Casino Insights. "He still has a bright future in boxing, especially at the high level."

In June, many throughout the boxing community called for Wilder, 38, to hang up his gloves after a knockout loss to Zhilei Zhang, his second straight defeat and fourth in five fights.

But Scott said that "losses happen in boxing, even to the greatest fighters."

The coach said he believes fights against Anthony Joshua and former UFC champion Francis Ngannou are both "realistic" options for Wilder.

"They are still megafights," Scott said. "AJ maybe doesn't have the same juice it once did, but it would still sell out any arena or stadium. Just seeing those two in the ring would be a joy for the fans. ... I'm proud of Deontay. He's still in a position to make these big fights happen."

Wilder has just one win in the last five years, a first-round knockout of Robert Helenius in October 2022.

Known as one of the hardest punchers in boxing history, Wilder began his career with 40 consecutive victories. He held the WBC heavyweight title from 2015-2020 and successfully defended it 10 times.