deontay wilder

TUSCALOOSA | People in and around Tuscaloosa know Deontay Wilder. His meteoric rise from boxing novice to Olympic medal glory has been well documented. Thousands followed his journey from amateur to professional boxer.

Tonight, boxing fans across the country will have a chance to watch Wilder live in his fourth professional fight.

Wilder fights Joseph Rabotte tonight in Chicago on ESPN2’s “Friday Night Fights,” beginning at 9:30 p.m. The bout is scheduled for four rounds.

His is expected to be the first televised fight of the night.

Rabotte holds a career record of 3-5 with a knockout to his credit. The 30-year-old hails from Myrtle Beach, S.C., and weighs 264 pounds. He met Wilder for the first time on Thursday.