Journeyman Or Giant Killer? Tyrrell Anthony Herndon Seeks To Overturn Expectations And Upset Deontay Wilder’s Comeback Plans

Veteran Tyrrell Anthony Herndon says he’s coming to “showcase” his skills to defeat former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder on June 27th in their fight at the Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas.

Journeyman Label

The San Antonio, Texas native Herndon (24-5, 14 KOs) takes issue with being labeled as a “bum” or “journeyman” by some people since the announcement that he would be the opponent for Wilder (43-4-1, 42 KOs) in what many see as a last chance type of fight for the struggling ‘Bronze Bomber.’

Herndon admits that he thought a “journeyman” was someone who came from the UK and journeyed overseas to fight in the U.S. rather than a reliable but not outstanding fighter. With five defeats, Hernandez, 37, is not exceptional, especially when you look at some of the guys he’s lost to.

The real problem is that Herndon has never beaten any notable opposition during his ten-year professional career. All of his wins have come against obscure fighters that even hardcore boxing fans have never heard of. So, you can argue that his true record coming into the Wilder fight is 0-5 instead of 24-5 because he’s unproven.

Herndon’s Five Career Defeats

– Richard Torrez Jr
– Corey Barlow – 2-4-1
– Brandon Glanton
– Efe Ajagba
– Shamarian Snider

When Herndon did step up against notable fighters, he was flattened in two rounds by Richard Torrez Jr. in 2021, disqualified in three rounds by Brandon Glanton in 2018, and knocked out in one round by Efe Ajaga in 2017.

This is the last chance saloon for the 39-year-old Deontay, who comes into the fight with a 1-4 record in his last five fights and badly in need of a win to keep hope alive for him to be used as an opponent for Anthony Joshua or one of the other popular heavyweights.

Wilder has worn out his welcome for the Riyadh Season events after losing to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang. He’s unlikely to be invited back without turning his career around. Unfortunately for ‘The Bronze Bomber,’ it will take a lot more than beating the non-contender Herndom to climb his way back.

The Upset Dream

“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 jounreyman?” said Tyrrell Anthony Herndon to Pro Boxing Fans, reacting to the criticism he’s received since the announcement of him being the next opponent for Deontay Wilder on June 27th.

“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,” said Herndon.

With Richard Torrez Jr. obliterating Herndon in two rounds, it’s difficult not to view him as a journeyman-level fighter. It doesn’t matter whether Herndon wants to accept the label he’s been given. He’s a ten-year vet with no solid wins on his resume, and he’s lost the three times he tried stepping up. He was chosen as Deontay’s opponent because he’s seen as a fighter that his handlers believe he can beat.

“We didn’t let the loss [to Richard Torrez Jr.] deter us, and it led to the great opportunity of my life [fighting Wilder],” said Herndon. “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.

“They think I’m coming in for a money grab. 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 for something I believe I’m going to do,” said Herndon.