'Deontay brought boxing to Alabama:' Birmingham fights draw thousands as sport's popularity grows

Jadalie Medeiros, 12, and her brother Jonathan watched raptly as dozens of boxers from all over the world entered the ring Saturday heavyweights and lightweights, new fighters with something to prove and a world champion with a title to defend.The siblings from Dothan, both talented and decorated boxers in their own right, accompanied their father, John, to the Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. They anxiously awaited the marquee fight of the night, when Tuscaloosa native Deontay Wilder would defend his WBC heavyweight title against Johann Duhaupas, of France.The fight reached the 11th round, with Wilder delivering a series of powerful blows to his opponent's face and winning by technical knockout. The victory brought his record to 35-0, with knockouts in all but one fight."What Deontay has done for the world of boxing Deontay has brought boxing to Alabama, and he's brought boxing from Alabama to the world," John Medeiros said.Jonathan Medeiros started boxing when he was 7, after the family met Felix "Tito" Trinidad, widely regarded as one of the best boxers in Puerto Rican history. The Medeiros family then met Wilder at Jonathan's first Golden Gloves tournament, and they have since kept in touch.John Medeiros says Wilder and his manager, Jay Deas, deserve all of the credit for the markedly increased interest here."The biggest thing in [Wilder's] camp is loyalty," Medeiros said. "He's loyal to http://www.latimes.com/sports/boxing/ - http://www.latimes.com/sports/boxing/ - his home, his family and his state. Jay is a huge pinnacle of making all this happen, too."It can be difficult for amateurs to break into the sport in Alabama because gyms are relatively scarce. Still, Medeiros said, the state produces a lot of quality fighters and the recent surge in popularity will breed more success.