Deontay Wilder: I'm Becoming A Preacher!! ... After I'm Done Beating People Up

Heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder says after he hangs up the gloves he might just pick up the collar ... and become the toughest preacher ever to walk the earth.

Wilder was at LAX when we asked about his pre-fight prayer ritual and whether or not he thinks it helps him successfully punish his opponents.

That's when the champ got all holy on us ... saying that not only does prayer work for him, but that he's gonna help it work for everyone else ... by being a preacher when he retires from the ring.