Deontay Wilder Injury: Updates on Boxer's Recovery from Hand, Biceps Surgeries

Deontay Wilder did not come out of his successful title defense against Chris Arreola unscathed, suffering injuries to his right hand and biceps. 

Continue for updates. 

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Wilder to Have Surgery

Sunday, July 17

Per Aaron Suttles of the Tuscaloosa News, Wilder will need two surgeries to fix a broken right hand and his biceps muscle.   

Wilder's co-manager and trainer, Jay Deas, told Suttles that Wilder's "hand surgery will probably be first" and is likely to happen "within 24 hours."

Deas did not know exactly how Wilder suffered the injuries, but Suttles noted he believes they occurred in the fourth round of Saturday's fight.

The 30-year-old has had problems with his right hand before, previously breaking it in his January 2015 victory over Bermane Stiverne when he won the WBC Heavyweight Championship. He told RingTV after that bout the injury happened "in the third or fourth round of the fight."

There were no lingering effects from that injury for Wilder, who returned to the ring five months later and knocked out Eric Molina. 

Deas told Suttles that part of the problem with Wilder's hands is that he "hits too hard to be a human being," and his hand "bones are a little smaller."

The good news is that Wilder doesn't have to worry about missing a fight due to his injuries, though it is starting to become noticeable that he's having hand problems. It hasn't affected his in-ring performance thus far, with his win over Arreola moving him to 37-0. 

Deas and Wilder's camp will need to take extra precautions for the WBC heavyweight champ moving forward to avoid this becoming an issue that could shorten his career or diminish the impact of his powerful punches.