Deontay Wilder to Return June 27 Against Journeyman Tyrrell Herndon

Wichita, Kansas - After a pair of deflating defeats that appeared to signal the end of his run as a major player in the heavyweight division, Deontay Wilder will return to the ring on June 27 in Wichita, Kansas. The former WBC title holder is set to face journeyman Tyrrell Herndon in a 10-round bout at Charles Koch Arena.

The matchup, on paper, offers little mystery. Wilder (43-4-1, 42 KOs), once the most feared puncher in boxing, is expected to dispatch Herndon (24-5, 15 KOs), a 37-year-old trial horse who was stopped in two rounds by rising prospect Richard Torrez Jr. just five months ago.

But beneath the surface, this fight represents something more sobering: a last-ditch attempt to breathe life back into the fading career of a once-electric star. Wilder, now 39, has won just one of his past five fights. His most recent appearance—a devastating knockout loss to Zhilei Zhang in June—had many wondering whether "The Bronze Bomber" would ever step into the ring again.

From 2015 to 2020, Wilder held the WBC heavyweight title and terrorized the division with an astonishing knockout ratio. His trilogy with Tyson Fury was the stuff of boxing folklore—three fights packed with drama, power, and punishment. Wilder floored Fury four times across the series but walked away with a draw and two crushing defeats, including a punishing stoppage in their second encounter.

Since that historic rivalry, Wilder’s aura has steadily diminished. His December 2023 loss to Joseph Parker was a tactical dismantling, and the subsequent defeat to Zhang confirmed what many suspected: Wilder’s legs and timing are not what they once were.

June 27 may be a comeback—but it is also a referendum on whether the Wilder era is truly over.

Tyrrell Herndon, the man chosen for this chapter in Wilder’s story, is not a serious threat on paper. Known more for his durability than his power, Herndon’s biggest career moment came when he was used as a test for U.S. Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. The result? A quick two-round TKO defeat. Since then, Herndon has picked up three modest wins, including a six-round split decision last May.

This bout, scheduled for 10 rounds, is widely seen as a tune-up for Wilder—an opportunity to regain confidence, stretch his legs, and shake off the weight of back-to-back losses.

Promoters are trying to frame the fight as the start of a new chapter.

"This is Wilder's legacy reloaded, he's still one of the hardest punchers in boxing," the promoter said. "He's on the road back to becoming the heavyweight champion of the world, and this is the first step."

That road, however, is paved with formidable challenges. The heavyweight division has moved on in Wilder's absence. Usyk, Fury, Joshua, Parker, Hrgovic, Dubois, and a host of rising prospects now fill the top 10. A victory over Herndon will do little to reinsert Wilder into that mix, but it could set up a bigger-name bout later this year—one last cash-in before the curtain finally drops.

For Wilder, June 27 is less about a title shot and more about reclaiming a sense of purpose. It’s a stay-busy fight with financial upside and the potential to justify one last significant payday.

And for fans, it’s a chance to glimpse a former great one more time—to see whether there’s still thunder in that right hand, or if we’re simply watching echoes of what once was.