Chiseled 6-foot-7-inch Deontay Wilder dropped out of college and turned to boxing in 2005 to support his daughter, who was born with spina bifida. He was a quick study, winning the U.S. Olympic trials in his 21st amateur fight and earning an Olympic bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Games. After winning his first 32 professional bouts by knockout, Wilder capped his rapid ascent by capturing a share of the world heavyweight title in January 2015. 

 

Like countless other boys born and raised in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Wilder always wanted to play football or basketball for his hometown University of Alabama Crimson Tide.

However, the 6-foot-7-inch Wilder’s goals changed in 2005, when his daughter, Naieya, was born with spina bifida, a serious birth defect of the spinal cord.

A freshman at Tuscaloosa’s Shelton State Community College at the time, Wilder left school and was soon working two jobs in order to support his daughter, who doctors said might never be able to walk.

In an attempt to earn more money, Wilder took up boxing shortly thereafter and was an extremely quick study.