The sign in the boxing ring at the end of the fight said it all: “…And STILL!!”

Tuscaloosa’s own Deontay Wilder knocked out Eric Molina in the ninth round Saturday night at raucous, sold-out Bartow Arena in Birmingham – the winner, “and still” the heavyweight champion of the world. The fight was Wilder’s first defense of the WBC title he won in January when he defeated Bermane Stiverne.

Wilder is now 34-0 with 33 knockouts.

Photographer Nik Layman captured these arresting images of the fight for Alabama NewsCenter.