Home Extra Stuff National

Deontay Wilder stops Gerald Washington, runs home knockout streak to 9

Deontay Wilder turns Gerald Washington’s lights out in five at Legacy Arena; has now knocked out nine-straight in Alabama.

Deontay Wilder is the Bronze Bomber, but he might want to discuss a nickname swap with Keith Thurman. “One Time” is so much more appropriate for him. The Eraser would also fit. Wilder ends fights faster than anyone in the sport today.

Gerald Washington (18-1-1, 12 KOs) fought well. For four and a half rounds, he looked like he belonged. Two of the three judges actually had the fight even entering the fifth. Then, out of nowhere, this happened:

In an instant, every moment of competitiveness Washington had up to that point was wiped out. Those two rounds he won were made obsolete. Had he won all four rounds, it’d have been completely useless.

That’s the danger Wilder presents to anyone in the heavyweight division, the Anthony Joshua/Wladimir Klitschko winner (hopefully) included.

Wilder didn’t look as comfortable as he normally does early on. In fact, Wilder never seemed to settle in completely. Washington’s size (6’6″) forced him to pick his spots and led to a more measured, tactical affair.

But Wilder doesn’t need a fight to turn into a slugfest, a la Dominic Breazeale/Izuagbe Ugonoh earlier in the night, in order to force a stoppage.

Some would argue Washington isn’t the highest-caliber of opponent out there – and that’s true – but it’s worth noting he’d never been down before Saturday night.

Wilder improves to a perfect 9-0 in his home state of Alabama, with all nine wins coming by way of knockout. Preferably, bigger and better things are in his immediate future.