LOS ANGELES—When Deontay Wilder won the WBC title in 2015, it was the first time an American heavyweight held a title from one of the major sanctioning bodies since the Brooklyn-Born Shannon Briggs held the WBO crown in 2006. 

Wilder (41-0-1, 40 KOs), the most successful US heavyweight of his generation, believes his body of work to date is enough to stamp his entry into Canastota, New York for boxing’s most prestigious honor in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

“I never get credit for anything that I do,” said Wilder. “I’m a king. I’m the champ. I’m the baddest man on the planet … I’m a Hall of Famer right now after all that I’ve done. No one has done what I’ve done. I’m the hardest hitting fighter in the whole sport — period. I’m just blessed with the gift of power.”

 

The 33-year-old Wilder’s resume to date is devoid of a hallmark win that would etch his name as an all-time heavyweight great. His most notable fight was against Tyson Fury, a match that ended in a controversial draw in which many observers felt Fury had won.

The Alabamian’s most notable win was arguably against the man he’s fighting again Nov. 23 in Luis Ortiz, the Cuban combatant who rocked Wilder in a close and competitive fight that was scored five-rounds-to-four by all three judges before Wilder rallied for a KO.

"I'm the best in the world. I've said it before and I'll say it again,” said Wilder, who’s made nine defenses of his WBC title in the last four years. “I believe in that and I've proven that. I've proved so many people wrong and I still have to do it. That gives me the motivation and the will to keep going.

The affable and charismatic Wilder’s most notable wins have come against Bermane Stiverne (twice), Dominic Breazeale, Chris Arreola and Artur Szpilka. The adversaries are certainly nowhere near the Murderer’s Row or names required to make an indisputable case for HOF contention.

The 2008 Olympics bronze medal winner will need to run through the current gauntlet of heavyweight hitters in Fury, Anthony Joshua, Andy Ruiz, Oleksandr Usyk — and perhaps the likes of Dillian Whyte, Joseph Parker and Adam Kownacki if they ever make more of a leap — if he wants to cement his HOF status.

Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist and member of the Boxing Writers Assn. of America since 2011. He has written for the likes of the Guardian, USA Today, Philadelphia Inquirer, Men’s Health and NFL.com and currently does TV commentary for combat sports programming that airs on Fox Sports.  He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan or via email at manouk.akopyan@gmail.com.