Tyrrell Herndon turned home from the gym, but a fight opportunity against Deontay Wilder has breathed new life into his career.
Wilder is on the back of two consecutive defeats to Joseph Parker and most recently Zhilei Zhang.
The ‘Bronze Bomber’ faced widespread calls to retire from the boxing fraternity, but has elected to return this year.
He will face fellow American Herndon, who has a professional record of 24-5, and will be a huge underdog on the night.
It feels like last chance saloon for Wilder who is now 39 years old and in need of a win to breathe new life into his career.
But for Herndon it is the opportunity he has always dreamed of, coming into the sport – a fight against his idol, a powerful heavyweight maverick.
He told talkSPORT.com: “Yeah it’s been cool for me [to face my idol], it is something I visualised would happen.
“And it has done just that, I’ve replayed this scenario in my mind a thousand times.
“So when it does happen I’ve already been there, critics told me I was crazy for doing that.
“I’ve already been there a thousand times already, so when I get in there with him I think it will be natural.”
It has been a tough time for Herndon, who has yet to reach world level in his career.
Things looked bleak for the heavyweight after he was brutally stopped by prospect Richard Torrez Jr in October 2023.
Since then he has picked up three victories in a row and was looking to fight the best.
Herndon was in negotiations with Dillian Whyte but negotiations collapsed, and his hopes of a big night faded.
But after so much doubt, his opportunity came after one phone call, a dream clash with Wilder.
He continued: “It means the world to me, waking up one day knowing that your number is called.
“A week before I got the call, it was my tenth year as a pro, I was on my way to the gym but I turned around.
“I just said ‘today isn’t one of my days’. I’d been doing this ten years, but what did I have to show for it?
Top RankHerndon has the world at his feet against Wilder[/caption]
“Then my manager rang and I thought it might be Dillian Whyte, as that fight didn’t materialise before.
“But then he said Deontay Wilder and I replied ‘get the f*** out of here.’ I couldn’t believe it.
“It reminded me that any time can be my moment, and it means more than anyone would know.”
Herndon has all the odds stacked against him against a vastly more experienced opponent.
Wilder is dreaming big of mega fights against Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou.
But he must first get beyond Herndon who has motivations beyond the norm.
It seems written in the stars for Herndon to deliver a brave display and give the normally deadly Wilder some issues.
