wilder? Who be next?

[gilgamesh]

I can't believe anybody is fooled into believing Briggs is at all relevant. The last time he fought a meaningful opponent he was literally beaten to within an inch of his life and lost a large portion of his payday to hospital bills.

That was 6 years ago.

He has only gotten older and weaker since that night...in which I reiterate he provided absolutely NO challenge whatsoever to a credible opponent, and if he had a corner that gave a sh*t about him they probably could've saved him from taking the beating he did and losing so much of his money to hospital expenses.

That fight with Vitali should've been stopped after the 7th or 8th round. It was a slaughter every step of the way.

[crusader]

I'm not saying Takam is terrible, because he is not. What I am saying though, is that fighting the likes of Takam does not solve the problem of Wilder fighting a top level fighter. If Wilder v Takam was announced tomorrow, I would predict that a majority of the boxing public would be disappointed.

I would argue that Takam is the same level as Stiverne at his prime.

I agree that Takam wouldn't be a top opponent, but if Wilder can't get that type of opposition I'd at least like to see him fight the best who are available.

[candyslim]

Takam is a decent heavyweight but isn't a credible contender, which probably makes him ideal for Wilder, Haymon, and the WBC. I thought he looked lackluster and distinctly unambitious against Parker, and I'd much rather watch him fighting Duhaupas in a fight for the French title and European title final eliminator, or something similar. I would stress I'm talking about Takam as we've seen him in the last year - I fear the fired up, determined Takam that went to war with Povetkin is but a memory now.

It's all very well to say all Wilder's potential top opponents are tied up, but why wasn't Wilder tied up? I know he's been injured but that doesn't prevent someone contracting for a future meaningful fight a few months down the line, does it? Much more sensible to take a warm up against a barely warm body, to test your recovery, and wait for your extremely co-operative sanctioning body to select an equally non-threatening has-been to be your mandatory. If the less gullible fans get fed up with this ongoing charade then your guardian angels can pick a live one that they know they can ensure you'll never actually have to face, while giving you some much needed credibility when it gets called off just before you have to fly to his motherland, which is of course a massive disappointment to you.

Wilder cites Ortiz's drug history as a reason not to fight him, but his attitude to the drug history of potential opponents strikes me as rather fluid and flexible, although I accept I may be doing him an injustice in the case of opponents nominated and sanctioned by the World Boxing Conspiracy.

If Wilder were more concerned about his image, his self-respect, and his legacy, he would defend against Ortiz while the guy can still walk without a stick. Yes it's a risky fight and probably wouldn't be a smash at the box office, but a win over the unbeaten Cuban bogeyman with his impressive international amateur pedigree, would earn him respect from the boxing fraternity if maybe not the casuals. Come on Deontay, it shouldn't be too daunting a challenge for the man who is going to collect all the belts and unify the division, surely.

I really want to respect Wilder and to see him in a real fight, but since that doesn't look like happening (unless there's a big announcment at Wembley next week), if it has to more of the same, then one non-elite level fighter who I'd quite like to see him fight is Domenic Breazeale. I imagine this would not go down well with a lot of you, but I reckon Breazeale would give him plenty of trouble, if you'll forgive the pun. He won't tower above Breazeale and keep him on the end of his jab like he would the 5½” shorter and fairly pedestrian Takam. Breazeale doesn't boast the mobility of his buddy, Gerald Washington, but he's very much tougher and less likely to be wiped out by one of Wilder's booming right handers, and although not fast of hand or foot, he would be right in Wilder's face throwing far harder shots than El Pollo Negro could muster. It would be like the Duhaupas fight only DB hits a lot harder I reckon.

It's got to be better than the Stiverne return surely - what the hell has he done to justify his current ranking/ title opportunity ?

[gilgamesh]

Breazeale sucks, and needs at least 2 or 3 meaningful wins before he should ever be considered for another title shot. Getting into an argument with a guy at a hotel and threatening to sue him shouldn't get you a title shot.

[KiwiRider]

Takem has proven that he is a B grade boxer simply because he loses at the A level.
Better opponent for Wilder than Stiverne, but only just.
It would still only prove Wilder is the best of the B's if he could win that match up.
And I totally agree that Takem looked lacklustre against Parker, who is yet to prove his A grade status, Takem being his highest ranked opponent.

[gilgamesh]

Takem has proven that he is a B grade boxer simply because he loses at the A level.
Better opponent for Wilder than Stiverne, but only just.
It would still only prove Wilder is the best of the B's if he could win that match up.
And I totally agree that Takem looked lacklustre against Parker, who is yet to prove his A grade status, Takem being his highest ranked opponent.

I would say Takam is on the same level as Stiverne as he hasn't proven he's beyond that level.

[candyslim]

Breazeale sucks, and needs at least 2 or 3 meaningful wins before he should ever be considered for another title shot. Getting into an argument with a guy at a hotel and threatening to sue him shouldn't get you a title shot.

My comments were nothing whatever to do with what went on at the hotel. I'm just looking at who is in line, discarding those who are not likely to be considered - having a pulse, I think you called it, and then deciding which of the others is most likely to inconvenience the man who reminds me of that ferocious insect both physically and stylistically, The Praying Mantis

[gilgamesh]

Breazeale sucks, and needs at least 2 or 3 meaningful wins before he should ever be considered for another title shot. Getting into an argument with a guy at a hotel and threatening to sue him shouldn't get you a title shot.

My comments were nothing whatever to do with what went on at the hotel. I'm just looking at who is in line, discarding those who are not likely to be considered - having a pulse, I think you called it, and then deciding which of the others is most likely to inconvenience the man who reminds me of that ferocious insect both physically and stylistically, The Praying Mantis

There are Top 10 guys that deserve a shot. Breazeale is not among them.

[candyslim]

I'm listening, do go on ...

[gilgamesh]

Ortiz, Parker, Andy Ruiz are all more deserving opponents than Breazeale to me. Breazeale can be fun to watch when matched at the right level, but against the higher level of guys he's horribly outmatched.

He does go for it though. So he might be fun to watch against Wilder.

He'd definitely be another opponent for Wilder to select that would get him nothing but sh*t on though.

[candyslim]

Ortiz, Parker, Andy Ruiz are all more deserving opponents than Breazeale to me.

I don't dispute that but I was thinking about those fighters that might pass the selection criteria and I think you and I are of one mind as to why those you mention, don't ... The Mantis doesn't prey on scorpions

[asdfjkl]

Boxrec's rankings aren't very good. They're good as a reference for who's active in the division, but guys will often be well out of place in their rankings.

And those are the guys Briggs is after but don't dare to fight him, like Wilder, Haye and such.

Why would anyone in the top 30 feel inclined to fight Briggs? He's ultimately inactive, and has shown no indication that he still has anything to consider himself a force in the game.

Despite inactive, he's still allmost a top 30 himself already, Briggs is better then most of the people in the top 50.

[candyslim]

I think Shannon Briggs remains an absolute nightmare for an opponent who lacks the experience, the ability, or the know-how to stay with him and survive the three round assault he will have to endure. Even for top ten contenders Briggs is bad news. That's why Haye didn't want to know and whyi Briggs would make a risky defence for Wilder, who might not have the savvy to stay well clear while the storm passes.

The Cannon lays down a good artillery barrage but there's no infantry to follow up these days, and if you are still standing at the bell for round four then you will likely go on to beat him. For those nine minutes or so though, he's as dangerous an opponent as you're likely to meet in my opinion, even if he (quite rightly) isn't highly ranked.

I admire what great shape he is in for a man in his mid-forties, and the excellent job of self-promotion he has kept up to try to stay in the public eye. Having said that I don't know how many more times I can hear his "Let's go champ" catch-phrase before I feel an irredeemable compulsion to jump off a tall building.

[asdfjkl]

Takem has proven that he is a B grade boxer simply because he loses at the A level.
Better opponent for Wilder than Stiverne, but only just.
It would still only prove Wilder is the best of the B's if he could win that match up.
And I totally agree that Takem looked lacklustre against Parker, who is yet to prove his A grade status, Takem being his highest ranked opponent.

I would say Takam is on the same level as Stiverne as he hasn't proven he's beyond that level.

What's Stiverne his best win? Takam would destroy Stiverne within 5 rounds I think.

[RScarf1]

I think Shannon Briggs remains an absolute nightmare for an opponent who lacks the experience, the ability, or the know-how to stay with him and survive the three round assault he will have to endure. Even for top ten contenders Briggs is bad news. That's why Haye didn't want to know and whyi Briggs would make a risky defence for Wilder, who might not have the savvy to stay well clear while the storm passes.

The Cannon lays down a good artillery barrage but there's no infantry to follow up these days, and if you are still standing at the bell for round four then you will likely go on to beat him. For those nine minutes or so though, he's as dangerous an opponent as you're likely to meet in my opinion, even if he (quite rightly) isn't highly ranked.

I admire what great shape he is in for a man in his mid-forties, and the excellent job of self-promotion he has kept up to try to stay in the public eye. Having said that I don't know how many more times I can hear his "Let's go champ" catch-phrase before I feel an irredeemable compulsion to jump off a tall building.

I agree with everything you stated. I think a lot of people are underestimating Briggs. Briggs said that Haye pulled out of a fight with him. I can't stand the "Let's Go Champ" phrase either.

[candyslim]

Well Stiverne twice beat Arreola at a time when that meant something, and he gave Wilder a decent argument despite being made to order for him physically and stylistically. What makes things both difficult to evaluate and so interesting, is that the respective abilities of fighters is not a constant and varies over time (from day to day in cases where fighters are equal in ability) and the Arreola that faced Wilder was shadow of his former self. We know that about Arreola, I believe Takam to be in decline, and strongly suspect it of Stiverne.

I think it's difficult to say who wins between Stiverne and Takam mainly because of his inactivity. What a shame the fight with Povetkin got canned because that would have been a good gauge (of what Stiverne has left) and probably a spectacle given the similarities between Stiverne and Takam and how good the Povetkin v Takam fight was.

Sometimes trying to justify a fighter's ranking can be something of a circular argument, I thought that trying to explain why I cited Malik Scott as a decent win on Ortiz resume. It tends to go something like:

"Fred Bloggs is a great fighter - he knocked out Joe Schmoe"
"Yeah, and who did Schmoe ever beat?"
"He won and drew against John Doe"
"John Doe ... I don't even know who that is?" (sorry I know that was bad )
"John Doe - the guy who knocked out Fred Bloggs"

You see what I mean?

[BroughtonRulesRefuge]

- Oh my oh my, such a hue and cry over much ado about nothing.

The history Of the Bronze Beyoncé tells us he will be defending for the umpteenth time against the always game TBA given short notice in crackerville Alabama.

In short, a TBA by any other name is still a TBA though I suppose baby hughie has suddenly made parker available needing a dance partner.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Ortiz, Parker, Andy Ruiz are all more deserving opponents than Breazeale to me. Breazeale can be fun to watch when matched at the right level, but against the higher level of guys he's horribly outmatched.

He does go for it though. So he might be fun to watch against Wilder.

He'd definitely be another opponent for Wilder to select that would get him nothing but sh*t on though.

Ruiz? He already got a shot doing less than Breazeale. Shouldn't he get a win of note before another shot? Though admittedly, he performed well.

[Lackeos]

Takem has proven that he is a B grade boxer simply because he loses at the A level.
Better opponent for Wilder than Stiverne, but only just.
It would still only prove Wilder is the best of the B's if he could win that match up.
And I totally agree that Takem looked lacklustre against Parker, who is yet to prove his A grade status, Takem being his highest ranked opponent.

I would say Takam is on the same level as Stiverne as he hasn't proven he's beyond that level.

What's Stiverne his best win? Takam would destroy Stiverne within 5 rounds I think.

Neither one of those fighters would destroy one another, especially not in 5 rounds. That's a pretty close match-up, and neither are the type to score an early KO against an opponent of that level.

[asdfjkl]

I would say Takam is on the same level as Stiverne as he hasn't proven he's beyond that level.

What's Stiverne his best win? Takam would destroy Stiverne within 5 rounds I think.

Neither one of those fighters would destroy one another, especially not in 5 rounds. That's a pretty close match-up, and neither are the type to score an early KO against an opponent of that level.

I have no clue what makes people think Stiverne is any good, he basically lost against Derreck Rossy, but somehow, probably because of the money, he received the win anyway.

[stellar]

please , do you have somebody link to fight Stiverne Rossi?

[asdfjkl]

please , do you have somebody link to fight Stiverne Rossi?

It wasn't televised and we all know why lol.

Somehow, even if it was a fair win, just look at the others Derreck Rossi fought with and lost against and with what numbers.
It's just silly to watch actually in my opinion.

[candyslim]

So what is the basis for your saying that Rossy should have got the decision over Stiverne?

I assumed that had to mean that you had seen it.

[Freedom2013]

Why not Wilder vs. Parker?

Parker isn't really very good, Deontay doesn't need to fear him.

[candyslim]

Except Deontay isn't very good either (albeit he can damn near take your head off)

I can't see he would be overjoyed at the prospect of facing Parker instead of a nice sedate ramble through the park in the form of Stiverne. A title shot that really is BS and by that I don't necessarily mean Bermane Stiverne.