Following his defeat by Zhilei Zhang last year, Deontay Wilder is preparing for two comeback bouts aimed at rebuilding confidence, with a potential high-profile pairing against Anthony Joshua in mind. Ahead of his return to the ring against Tyrrell Herndon on Saturday, June 28, 2025, here is information about his former fiancee, Telli Swift.
Who is Telli Swift?
Born Shuntel Swift on January 24, 1987, in Zambales, Philippines, she adopted the name `Telli` after gaining fame. She spent her childhood in Japan before relocating to California.
Telli began modeling at the age of three and participated in numerous beauty pageants.
Beyond modeling, she is known as a reality television personality and frequently interacts with celebrities.
How they met
Telli and Deontay Wilder started dating in 2015 after meeting at LAX airport.
Telli recounted their meeting: “We spotted each other at check-in, then again at TSA, before he finally approached me near the gates.
“While we were talking, my friend arrived. I had just been discharged from the hospital due to a leg infection that I feared might require amputation if antibiotics failed.
“I stopped talking to Deontay to speak with my friend, and he left.
“We reconnected via Instagram direct messages. About two weeks before a family reunion in Alabama, Deontay`s home state, we got back in touch. The rest is history.”
Wilder initially hesitated to propose, concerned about potential heartbreak, but eventually proposed during an episode of `Wags Atlanta`.
He stated, “I love this woman. She has my heart; she`s my baby, my best friend.
“Even though I know I got a real woman and I love her to death, I know that I could give my all to a person and still get [expletive] over.
“I’m open to marriage because, as I said, I`ve found my best friend.”
The proposal took place on February 15, 2018, during their child`s gender reveal party, where they learned they were expecting a daughter.
Break-up
The relationship between Wilder and Telli worsened over several years, leading to a very public split in 2025.
Their breakup involved accusations of domestic violence and ongoing legal battles.
In April 2025, Telli was linked to NFL player John Johnson III while both she and Wilder were involved in court cases.
In June 2024, Telli successfully obtained a temporary restraining order against Wilder in Los Angeles.
The order required Wilder to maintain a distance of at least 100 yards from Telli, their daughter, and her son until a court hearing scheduled for June 25, 2025. As of June 27, 2025, no outcome from this hearing has been reported.
According to TMZ, Telli accused Wilder of repeated physical abuse, including choking her at least five times since 2018 (one instance allegedly occurred in front of their children), spitting on her, and attempting to suffocate her with a pillow.
Various media outlets reported her additional claims that Wilder hit her son`s head against a car, accessed her laptop without permission, sent unsettling messages to her contacts, used home surveillance to monitor her, and forced her out of their Atlanta home shortly after her surgery in April 2024.
Marca reported that Telli alleged Wilder subjected her to persistent mockery, threats to damage her property, and forceful sexual demands, reportedly expecting sex “multiple times a day”.
She voiced concerns for her safety, especially after Wilder`s significant loss to Zhilei Zhang in June 2024, stating that his emotional state and previous violent behavior led her to believe he might become physically abusive.
In her restraining order application, Telli wrote, “I believe Deontay could become physically violent towards me when he returns in June because he has been extremely angry with me since April and has a history of physical abuse towards me.”
Wilder’s divorce from Jessica Scales-Wilder
Wilder was married to Jessica Scales from 2009 to 2017, and they had four children together: two sons (Deontay Jr and Dereon) and two daughters (Naieya and Ava).
Their oldest child, Naieya, lives with spina bifida, and Wilder has often cited her as an inspiration in her fight against the condition.
Reports suggest Wilder had an affair with Telli Swift, leading to his divorce from Jessica after eight years. Since the divorce, Jessica has remained out of the public eye, concentrating on raising their children.
Oliver Croft