WBC world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (37-0) returns to his home state of Alabama this Saturday night to defend his title against the challenge of unbeaten Gerald Washington (18-0-1). Most experts are not giving Washington much of a chance to stay competitive. Washington is a big puncher, but as a former football player he arrived late in the sport of boxing and it shows in the holes in his game. Now Wilder is not the most polished heavyweight either but the difference in skill level between the two should be ample. Wilder was scheduled to face Poland’s Andrzej Wawrzyk but the challenger came up positive for steroids and was replaced by Washington. Wilder does have a few open questions heading into this fight as he has been off since July of last year recovering from a broken right hand and a torn right bicep. Washington should be credited with taking the fight on short notice but a win on his part would be a big surprise. The second world title fight on the card sees Jarrett Hurd (19-0) taking on Tony Harrison (24-1) for the vacant IBF belt at 154 pounds and this fight features a much more competitive line. This belt was recently vacated by Jermall Charlo and Hurd and Harrison is a fight that pits two 26 year olds in their first world title fights. Hurd is coming in with a lot of hype but some experts feel he didn’t look all that great in stopping Jojo Dan (35-3) in his last fight back in November. Meanwhile, Harrison has gone 3-0 since his July of 2015 loss to Willie Nelson back in November of 2015. More heavyweight action sees former Olympian Dominic Breazeale (17-1) return to action to face undefeated Izuagbe Ugonoh (17-0). Ugonoh is a bit of an unknown as his record is built up fighting in New Zealand and Poland and this fight marks his United States debut. Ugonoh is coming in the favorite for this one despite Breazeale’s higher profile and amateur pedigree. Breazeale’s last outing saw him go to England last June to challenge Anthony Joshua for the IBF world heavyweight title and that fight ended with Breazeale’s first loss as he was stopped in round seven. Legacy Arena – Birmingham, Alabama – Fox – Saturday Heavyweight 12 rounds – Gerald Washington +1300 Deontay Wilder -2150 – Super Welterweight 12 rounds – Tony Harrison +158 Jarrett Hurd -180 – Heavyweight 12 rounds – Dominic Breazeale +215 Izuagbe Ugonoh -255 – —– Click below to bet the fights now! 
World Heavyweight Title Action in Alabama Saturday
