Wilder fears he might kill someone in the ring

Following his stoppage win over Gerald Washington, WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder is expressing concerns that he’s becoming so powerful — like Super Saiyan powerful — that’s he actually in fear of seriously injuring or even killing an opponent inside the ring.

“Too many times I really feel like I’m going to seriously injure someone, to the point where they’re going to have to put a red tag on someone’s toe. I really feel that way. This is no joke. The more experience I get, the more dangerous I become.”

Of course with better experience one might expect better craft. But there were a few instances during the fight where craft went all the way out the window as Wilder flailed his way to a win.

Despite that, during the post-fight press conference promoter Lou DiBella credited Wilder (38-0, 37 KOs) with having the highest knockout rate of any heavyweight champion in history — sitting at 97.3%.

“The power is real,” Wilder said with a smile.

Wilder, who had been recovering from a broken right hand and a torn biceps prior to this fight, says he feels great after the action and is now looking to unify the division. The time-frame on that potentially happening is unclear however, as the WBC has just installed Bermane Stiverne as his mandatory challenger. Whether that means Stiverne will get an immediate shot at Wilder remains to be seen.