Photography of Tuscaloosa Boxer Deontay Wilder WBC Heavyweight Champion of the World
Haverkampf Photography and Video
Photography in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
So many titles have been won by Tuscaloosa, Alabama athletes that Tuscaloosa is now well know as Title Town, Titletown or T-Town. These titles include: 16 NCAA Football National Championships, 6 NCAA Women's Gymnastics National Championships, 2 NCAA Men's Golf National Championships, 1 NCAA Women's Golf National Championship and 1 NCAA Softball Championship. That is the most National Championships of any single city, in the U.S. 26 Total Team National Championships is really something to be proud of! One can hardly walk around Tuscaloosa without tripping over another trophy. #FirstWorldProblem Those are all University of Alabama NCAA Division 1 titles. If you are thinking there are some champions being left out here, you are absolutely right! One of the Tuscaloosa champions not on that list is Deontay Wilder, the WBC Heavyweight Champion of the World! That puts our own Deontay Wilder in the company of boxers like, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield. What an accomplishment! Congratulations Deontay!
Sometimes I love my job! Well most of the time actually! When Deontay Wilder's promotional team called me and asked me to be his photographer the day Tuscaloosa gave him a parade in celebration of him bringing another title to Titletown, I had to play it cool. "Yeah, I think I could do it that day. Let me check." Are you kidding me, I get paid for this?! I would certainly do this for free. I get to hang out with Deontay while he gets to bask in the glory of the rewards all of his hard work has brought him. I get a pass that get me into doors the press can't even get into. What a deal!
After having spent that day following the champ around I was left with such a great impression of him. After a long day featuring a parade and presentation at The Tuscaloosa Amphetheater, Deontay Wilder was taking pictures with and signing autographs for friends and VIP in a private area. When he was told he needed to go out and talk to the press his response was, "Not until everyone who wants a picture gets a picture." He truly cares more about the fans even when the cameras aren't on him. He has since brought heavyweight championship fights back to Alabama and promised to keep training right here in Tuscaloosa at Skyy Boxing. Tuscaloosa is lucky to have such a loyal champion!
I took this picture as Deontay Wilder held up the WBC Heavyweight Championship Belt while being welcomed back to Titletown as a champion by thousands of fans.
