When you compete in a sport as rigorous as boxing, you need a pretty high tolerance for pain. Just ask Deontay Wilder.
The WBC heavyweight champion retained his title belt Saturday by dispatching Chris Arreola via technical knockout in the eighth round. Wilder dominated the fight, but what made his victory even more impressive is the pair of very serious injuries he battled through.
.@bronzebomber came over and showed us torn tight biceps. Says bone sticking out in hand as well. #wilderarreola pic.twitter.com/0Zd90nOf0E
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) July 17, 2016
Commission doctor confirmed the right hand break and distal biceps tear, @loudibella says. #WilderArreola #PBConFox
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) July 17, 2016
For those scoring at home, that means Wilder successfully retained a major title belt despite breaking his hand and tearing his biceps. And according to Wilder, he fought for at least four rounds with the major injuries.
“It was early — the third or the fourth round,” Wilder said, via CBSSports.com. “It was from an (awkward) punch. I hurt the hand first, and then the bicep.”
Wilder’s win despite injuries no doubt is impressive, but his future now is in doubt, as he could need quite some time to recover.
A biceps tear is a bad, bad injury. Could be out for rest of year. If you are killing Wilder, you are clueless.
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) July 17, 2016
Thumbnail photo via Marvin Gentry/USA TODAY Sports Images
