By Edward Chaykovsky

Promoter Lou DiBella feels WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (34-0, 33KOs) is getting much heat from his critics.

Wilder returns on Saturday night at the Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama. He's going up against little known Johann Duhaupas (32-2, 20KOs) of France. The fight will headline a card on NBC.

Duhaupas has never been stopped and returns from close decision victory over Manuel Charr in April. In March he lost a decision to Erkan Teper, who recently destroyed David Price.

Wilder capture the belt from Bermane Stiverne in January and then came back in the summer to stop Eric Molina in his first defense.

"I’m high on Wilder,” DiBella said told the Tuscaloosa News. “I think a lot of this scrutiny about who he’s fighting and everything else is overblown. The guy is the best American heavyweight we have. In heavyweight years, He’s still a kid (at 29), and a work in progress."

The bout will be Wilder's third of the year. DiBella says in order to stay that active per year, you're not going to face world-beaters in every match. The New York-based promoters points out that even fighters like Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier faced a few opponents who viewed in a negative light.

“He won the title in January and this defense will be his third fight this year. He might make it four before the year is out. The guy he’s fighting might not be a world-beater, but he’s a legitimate world-ranked contender and a quality European fighter. He’s also comparable to Wilder’s own size," DiBella said.

“Ali also caught flak for some of the guys he fought, and Frazier did, too,” DiBella said. “If you fight four times in a year, they can’t all be a Klitschko or a (Alexander) Povetkin. Everyone had Molina as a gimme, but Wilder had to really fight at times. Look, nobody is saying Wilder is Muhammad Ali, but he’s the best athlete in the heavyweight division. What he is, is an evolving talent. That’s why there’s this move to keep him as active as possible. The guy wants so much to improve."

Wilder's mandatory challenger is Alexander Povetkin of Russia. DiBella views Wilder's activity level as the best way to improve and get prepared for such as fight. 

“I think when Wilder does get in there with (Alexander) Povetkin (who is his mandatory challenger), or whoever is his next major risk fight, he’ll be well-prepared," DiBella said.