If there was any doubts about WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder’s popularity on the other side of the pond, boxing fans of Belfast have debunked any doubts today.

Wilder has been steadily building his profile over the years and while not as big as Anthony Joshua just yet, he knows if he were to say, knock out Tyson Fury before Christmas in America, that it could be his ticket to the big time in terms of getting the mainstream American media behind him and launching him into a huge star.

A heavyweight champion of the world from America should already be a big star, in fairness, but due to the competitive sports landscape and social media culture among athletes now, Wilder still finds himself looking for that main stream recognition.

But today in Belfast it was shown that boxing fans certainly know who he is as he got absolutely mobbed a short time ago (hat tip Fight Hype YouTube):

Incredible scenes to be fair.

Scenes that go to show just how big a Wilder vs Fury fight will be later this year.

And then, the winner of that, will make the Anthony Joshua fight one of the biggest fights in boxing for years next year.

What a time for the sport of boxing and the heavyweight division once again.