Deontay Wilder returns Friday, but what’s left?

He’s 39 now, and the loser of four of his last fights.

His boxing ability is limited, but his power and courage are not, as he showed against Tyson Fury; he was knocked down five times in two fights but never gave up.

His excuses have bordered on the ridiculous.

“He didn’t hurt me at all, but the simple fact is … that my uniform was way too heavy for me,” said Wilder about his second fight with Fury in 2020. “I didn’t have no legs from the beginning of the fight. In the third round, my legs were just shot all the way through.”

After losing to Joseph Parker in 2023, Wilder claimed traveling to Riyadh hampered his performance.

The ups in his career include capturing the WBC heavyweight title in 2015. He defended it successfully 10 times, impressively stopping oldie Luis Ortiz twice.  The downs are two losses and a debatable draw against former heavyweight champion  Fury, though he floored Fury three times.

He returned to knock out Robert Helenius in a single round, but showed nothing against Parker.

Getting knocked out by Zhilei Zhang was devastating.

Now saying he’s healthy, Wilder fights Tyrell Anthony Herndon (24-5, 15 KOs) this Friday in Wichita, KS. Herndon’s record is spotty.

He’s knocked out 15 fighters, but none of note. Herndon’s been stopped four times by fighters with a combined record of 12 wins and five losses.

Herndon bristles at some of the criticism he’s received.

“Whether people talk mess about I shouldn’t be here, I’m here. I’m a ten-year pro, and I’ve lost five times in ten years, and I’m a bum or which I’ve seen, I’m a journeyman?” Anthony Herndon said to Pro Boxing Fans. “For someone that has been doing this ten years, I’m a bum and a journeyman. It’s just crazy.

I’m glad I got this platform to show what this journeyman can do. I’m looking forward to it. Y’all scrutize somebody in boxing that has fought ten years and has lost five times. Shame on y’all,” added Herndon.

Herndon, 37, could have retired after getting starched by Richard Torres in 2023. He soldiered on, winning his last three fights.

He feels he’s as ready as he’ll ever be to fight Wilder.

“We didn’t let the loss [to Richard Torrez Jr.] deter us, and it led to the great opportunity of my life [fighting Wilder],” Herndon said. “I always had this crazy idea in my head that I would share the ring with Deontay Wilder. “People are going to count me out, and I know that. It’s up to me to showcase my skills in a major way on June 27th and pull off what they say is an upset.”

Likely, the referee will be the one to count Herndon out.

Early.

But what Wilder has left is the big question. He looked very uncomfortable and cautious around Parker. His defense, as always, was leaky.

Versus Zhang, he had moments of success, but Zhang flattened him in five rounds.

Many screamed he was finished as a fighter.

Perhaps the credit goes to Parker and Zhang, who are better boxers.

The promoters picked Herndon to showcase Wilder.

Wilder should win, but should is only a word.