Deontay Wilder has welcomed the idea of being compared with boxing legends Floyd Mayweather and Muhammad Ali ahead of his upcoming trilogy fight with Tyson Fury.
The 35-year-old American star hasn't competed inside the squared circle since his devastating defeat to fierce rival Fury in February 2020.
Wilder was dropped twice before he was stopped in the seventh round as Fury stripped the Bronze Bomber of the WBC championship in their blockbuster rematch.
Advert
The former WBC champ won his arbitration case in May to enforce his contractual clause for a third fight with Fury.
Wilder has been training hard with new trainer Malik Scott in the hopes of avenging his only professional defeat at the hands of the Gypsy King.
Read More:
However, the KO artist has now made a bold claim that he can "see the comparison" between himself and both Mayweather and Ali.
Speaking to YouTube channel 78SPORTSTV, Wilder said: "You got Floyd and you got Ali and those two great men in the sport that have done their thing.
Advert
"I can see the comparison to both. When it comes to Floyd, they always said he was boring and his style, which he showed great boxing skills, he showed great IQ in the ring, offense and defence, it still wasn't enough for people.
"And then when a king like me comes along, and show you just the opposite, show you so much power, so much athleticism [...] it still ain't enough."
Wilder equalled Ali's 10 consecutive title defences with his sensational seventh-round KO victory over Luis Ortiz in their 2019 rematch in Las Vegas.
The Bronze Bomber has admitted that Ali is "one of my idols in boxing" and previously named the Greatest on his Mount Rushmore of heavyweight fighters.
And Wilder's trainer even made a bold claim recently that the former WBC kingpin was the "closest thing" to Ali in modern-day boxing.
Advert
Wilder acknowledged Ali's divisive reputation inside and outside of the squared circle, saying that he came along to "take that same stand outside and inside the ring."
He said: "And then with Ali, to take a stand not only inside the ring but outside the ring, he was one considered one of the most hated men in America.
"Then you got Deontay Wilder come along to take that same stand outside and inside the ring, it seem like it ain't enough, it seem like they have these buck-dancers that dance in our kind to go against us and try it down.
"But you can't buck-break me, man, I'm chosen. Ali is one of my idols in boxing, I appreciate to be compared to him, and I can see the comparison of what he stood for.
Advert
"Especially in the times he did it in, the years he did it in -- man, oh my goodness, I just want to take that same stand here, because I'm not afraid.
"You have so many other guys in this world who have a stronger platform than I but they don't have the nerve, they don't have the courage to take a stand like I do, so they stay quiet -- they wait on guys like me to speak out."
Wilder and Fury will clash on 24th July for the WBC championship at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Featured Image Credit: PA/78SPORTSTVTopics: Heavyweight boxing, Boxing, muhammad ali, Deontay Wilder, Floyd Mayweather