Deontay Wilder, left, and Gerald Washington pose for the camera after Thursday’s news conference in Birmingham, Ala./Photo by Jennifer Hagler, Premier Boxing Champions
Gerald Washington boxed as a kid, but his size took him in a different direction – college football – where he played backup defensive end at USC. Washington couldn’t make it in the pro ranks, so he went back to the sweet science and turned pro at the tender age of 30.
Four years later, Washington (18-0-1, 12 KOs) finds himself in a spotlight he may not have envisioned he would ever experience – he’ll challenge Deontay Wilder (37-0, 36 KOs) for his heavyweight championship on Saturday at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala. (on Fox).