Dominic Breazeale has learned a lot from his first world heavyweight title challenge back in 2016 and feels ready to face Deontay Wilder on May 18.
Breazeale once challenged for the IBF heavyweight title in 2016 when he faced Anthony Joshua. Breazeale was unsuccessful, but has since then worked his way back up to title contention and is now facing Wilder, WBC champion, this weekend. During a media workout, Breazeale spoke on that loss to Joshua and called it a "stepping stone" for his career and that he has grown from that experience.
"Losing to Anthony Joshua in 2016 was a huge stepping stone for my career. I learned so much about what I had been doing wrong. I didn't do enough to get the win that night. I analyzed punch after punch and learned more from that loss than any win I had," Breazeale said.
Moving ahead to his title fight against Wilder, Breazeale could potentially be the champion's ninth title defense, putting him in an elite club of heavyweight titleholders who have made at least nine defenses in one reign. Breazeale said he does not pay too much attention to that and downplays Wilder's powerful right hand.
"I don't give Deontay much credit for his title defenses. People talk about his big right hand, but this is heavyweight boxing. I have a big right hand too. I've put many individuals down on the canvas. All Wilder does is talk. We'll see who lands that right hand first on Saturday," Breazeale said.
Fightful will have live coverage of the fight taking place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Breazeale recently spoke to Fightful in a conference call and you can listen to Breazeale's comments in the video at the top of the page.