Deontay Wilder’s Dad Gives a Great Motivational Speech

Thursday night I was able to be part of the most important night in Tuscaloosa's recent history. Deontay Wilder, our future World Heavyweight Champion, had a send of gathering before he embarked to Las Vegas for his upcoming title fight.

There were proclamations, speakers, friends and family all there to wish Deontay well and to show our hometown support.

The highlight of the evening for me was when Deontay's father came up to speak. He shared with us an inside look at what made Deontay who he is. My favorite part was when his dad talked about when Deontay was younger he was taught NOT to fight in school no matter what.

His father went on to tell about when a group of children were picking on Deontay and he came home upset that the kids were bullying him (even though he was bigger than them) and what could be done about it. His father spoke of how he went to talk with the kids and was so beside himself at the way the kids were that he wanted to tell Deontay to 'go and get them'.

He went on to say that now Deontay is an adult and that all the restraints he had been taught as a youth were now 'off ' and for Deontay to 'go out and get'em'. That hit close to home as my late father used to tell me the same thing about dealing with others and how to be the person I was meant to be and not the person people thought I should be.

Good luck Deontay all of us here in Tuscaloosa are behind you 1000%.

Bring the belt back to T-town....