Deontay Wilder retained his WBC Heavyweight title with a punishing TKO in the 11th round over live challenger Johann Duhaupas Saturday night in Birmingham, AL. It wasn’t easy.
In his second title defense Wilder (35-0, 34 KO’s) came up against an unknown in Duhaupas, but the challenger got noticed in the early rounds for his attacking style that left its mark on the champion’s face. Duhaupas (32-3, 20 KO’s) ignored the partisan crowd and came right at Wilder, defending himself well and getting off a stiff left jab that couldn’t miss.
Wilder was clearly more athletic and was never in serious trouble from Duhaupas’ attack, but he was made to withstand the pressure and find a way to get his lethal attack off the ground. Before he could get it dialed in, significant swelling appeared outside his left eye.
Ultimately, Wilder outclassed his unknown opponent. When the champ opened up against a tired Duhaupas starting in the eighth round, it was a little scary. The tough Frenchman stood in defiantly, taking it all as Wilder got his long arms extended and landed with devastating force. Blood ran down the bridge of his nose, but Duhaupas went nowhere.
Referee Jack Reiss dutifully watched Duhaupas and asked for a meaningful response. Duhaupas gave it to him, until an onslaught in the 11th round that couldn’t be ignored. Reiss did well both in letting the fight go earlier and in stopping it when he did.
Deontay Wilder remains undefeated and keeps his title belt, but this fight asked him unfamiliar questions. He answered them well. The only concern going forward should be how flush Duhaupus was able to land on him in the early going and the swelling that it raised.
It is possible that Wilder figured it out and learned a great lesson tonight. Early on, he got tagged from distance while trying to find the right posture. Duhaupas got his work done coming in and then, once inside the long arms of Wilder, he was able to attack without much coming back.
But Wilder turned the tide in the middle rounds by punishing Duhaupas on the inside. This is when he truly got his man hurt and that stopped the activity from Duhaupas. As time went on, Wilder was able to wind up and attack on his own terms. It ended violently.
Perhaps Deontay Wilder showed us tonight how astute he is and how he and his team can make adjustments to change a fight. Duhaupas was lightly regarded going in, but he showed Wilder something he hadn’t had to deal with in 34 previous fights.
Let’s see what the champion does with this lesson.
