Deontay Wilder - an honest assessment

[Like a Boss]

An honest assessment of Deontay Wilder

http://www.boxingnews24.com/2015/10/an- ... ay-wilder/

By Scott Bells:

35 wins, 34 of which have been by knockout, and 0 losses. An impressive resume for any world heavyweight champion you would have to say.

You cannot fail to be impressed with what Deontay Wilder has done so far in his professional career, but we must look deeper to truly understand whether this man is indeed the real deal, or another fighter who has been spoon-fed opponents and hyped heavily to maximise the return on investment for his promoters.

We have seen the likes of Seth Mitchell, Chyris Arreola and Byrant Jennings try to be the next American heavyweight hope, but something about Wilder seems different…below, we examine just that.

Physical Attributes

At 6’7, Wilder cuts an imposing figure in and out of the ring and has excellent athleticism for a man his size. He does possess natural hand-speed and an excellent reach, something most notably shown also by undisputed champion Wladimir Klitschko.

At 30 years old, he should be considered to be in his prime, and his physical abilities should not start to decline for a while. He has not taken much, if any punishment so far in his career, and so should be considered in tremendous shape.

Boxing Ability

This has always been a hard one to rate as, before his fight with Stiverne, he had not needed anything but his power to get him through. All new fighters are given easy opponents early in their career as they work their way up and get more rounds in, but to be 30-0 and only have faced 3rd tier opposition is too slow a development, meaning his handlers clearly saw they needed to not rush him.

To be fair to Wilder, he demonstrated excellent patience and maturity in his win against Stiverne, which was by far the best performance of his career. He did get hit, but took punches well.

However, he struggled to put away 2nd/3rd tier fighter Eric Molina and similar opposition in his latest fight with Johann Duhaupas. Worryingly for Wilder, he looked very easy to hit, and kept his left hand very low throughout. While his boxing ability seems to be improving with every fight, he needs to develop more on the defence as real power punchers in the heavyweight division can knock anyone out with one shot.

My biggest question with Wilder is whether his power, which he obviously possesses, is going carry the same weight against the best fighters in the division. 9 rounds to put away Molina (who was obliterated by Chris Arreola who doesn’t have much power), couldn’t put away Stiverne…..now that he is fighting at a higher level, the quick knockouts are not coming. That’s not to say he couldn’t knock out Klitschko if he caught him clean as I think he would, but whether he catches him is another story. His power has been built on a resume of awful quality fighters, so it is the next 3-4 fights where we will see if it is real. He has a tendency to put 100% into every shot, and so he needs to be careful not to get countered by the best fighters in the division.

Opponents

As I mention above, Wilder’s opponents have been pretty awful (apart from Stiverne and arguably, Malik Scott). Eric Molina and Duhaupas were not title challenger material – it doesn’t matter if you are a huge Wilder fan, it is not the quality of fighter who he should be facing.

I would like to see the Alexander Povetkin fight happen, and for Wilder to get a defence in before then. Someone who has been active in the division and getting some wins would be preferable. A win against a fighter such as Kubrat Pulev, Carlos Takam or Artur Szpilka (these are the only ones who are available) would be a good yard stick for where he is at the moment in terms of his development. These three have all tasted defeat but have wins on their records that mean they should be taken seriously. No, they are not top tier fighters, but they are better than Molina and co!

Conclusion

Is Deontay Wilder a hype job? No, he is not. He has the potential to be a very good fighter indeed, and has the vulnerability that makes any fighter (such as Amir Khan for example) exciting to watch.

With power on his side and a confident persona, he needs to kick on with some real quality wins to follow-up on his solitary significant win against Stiverne. The heavyweight division is not full to the brim with quality fighters, but for a fighter like Wilder where the prize is fighting Klitschko in a mega fight, he needs to build himself up to the point where people (outside of his fan base) genuinely believe he can win. Looking at Tyson Fury as an example, he certainly talks the talk outside of the ring, but will almost definitely taste defeat in November as Klitschko is the better boxer and Fury’s best wins are over Chisora and Cunningham (who knocked him down). He has not convinced everyone that he has the ability to win – with Wilder, he has an opportunity to do it a different way.

[Baby Face Finster]

Wilder is more hype than substance as far as I am concerned . The second he fights someone who packs a punch and can stand up to his punches to land their own he will get knocked out.

[Like a Boss]

Wilder is more hype than substance as far as I am concerned . The second he fights someone who packs a punch and can stand up to his punches to land their own he will get knocked out.

A lot of people have been singing that chorus for a long time.

[digzee]

Wilder is more hype than substance as far as I am concerned . The second he fights someone who packs a punch and can stand up to his punches to land their own he will get knocked out.

A lot of people have been singing that chorus for a long time.

That's because he still hasn't faced anyone good to disprove the doubters, he has had 35 fights but Joshua would be the favourite against everyone of his opponents and he's only had 14 fights and been a pro for only 2 years. Wilder needs to step up and fight Povetkin otherwise he'll be a laughing stock if he continues to fight 2nd/3rd tier opponents while claiming to be a heavyweight champion.

[Like a Boss]

Wilder is more hype than substance as far as I am concerned . The second he fights someone who packs a punch and can stand up to his punches to land their own he will get knocked out.

A lot of people have been singing that chorus for a long time.

That's because he still hasn't faced anyone good to disprove the doubters, he has had 35 fights but Joshua would be the favourite against everyone of his opponents and he's only had 14 fights and been a pro for only 2 years. Wilder needs to step up and fight Povetkin otherwise he'll be a laughing stock if he continues to fight 2nd/3rd tier opponents while claiming to be a heavyweight champion.

It's a classic case of guilty until proven innocent. Meanwhile Wilder is laughing all the way to the bank. I enjoy watching him fight. But he's not the greatest ever heavyweight and few think he is. I don't.

Joshua looks like an extraordinary talent in the making and is on target to win the title at some stage and then hold it for a prolonged period.

[Badhusker]

Both Wilder and Joshua have question marks, but look like they will be at the top of the division soon. Wilder seems to be the one people love to hate because of competition, but truth be told Joshua has been tested less, granted less fights. Lets hope for the best out of these two, and hope the negative self fulfilling prophecies some speak of are wrong. Would love to see the two fight.

[Like a Boss]

Both Wilder and Joshua have question marks, but look like they will be at the top of the division soon. Wilder seems to be the one people love to hate because of competition, but truth be told Joshua has been tested less, granted less fights. Lets hope for the best out of these two, and hope the negative self fulfilling prophecies some speak of are wrong. Would love to see the two fight.

[man]

i feel this "honest assessment" just asks the same
questions as everybody else has for years. but asking
questions is not an assessment. here is mine.

while quite some years back i believed he would
be where he actually is now, i now have changed
my mind in recent months about him and his career.
when deontay showed so little confidence in himself
to go for fighting hughie fury, i thought that he lacks
something that you need up there. a certain crazy
self esteem, a certain tenacity.

unless the other young lions are total flukes i think
he will run a somewhat successful, yet in the end
boring career for the next five years. holding on to
a belt, very careful match making, this sort of thing.

wilder is not the next great thing in heavy weight
boxing. my bet is joshua.

[tiny_acres]

The most positive thing I can say about Wilder is he is staying busy.
I just wish he would fight someone with a pulse.The Stiverne win was a good one.
But the rest are pedestrian.
I am just hoping Povetkin comes out of his fight with Wach without a mark or any injuries.
Then and only then can we see if Wilder is legit.Povetkin will be a tall order for Wilder.

[Badhusker]

I agree, and hope he fights someone good very soon.

[tiny_acres]

I agree, and hope he fights someone good very soon.

I do think as long as Povetkin does not get injured or cut.That this fight will take place no later
than April.

[Mr Icaman]

Wilder is a victim of his management. He honestly believes he is the best in the world but hasn't been able to prove anything because of the stiffs their keep making him fight...

I'm sure he want to fight the best...

Wilder to me is still unproven as he really hasn't faced anyone, even when he one the belt...

[Badhusker]

I think Wilder only has had 2 defenses, in less than a year since he won the title, correct? The first was after breaking his hand to test it, and he didn't look great. I don't think he looked great in his last fight compared to how he looked against Stiverne. Maybe they think he needs more work before Povetkin, so ok.

Many on the board here picked Stiverne to beat Wilder. 43 for Wilder-36 for Stiverne. I'll be patient as long as he fights Povetkin by next April or May, then I'll be done with him.

[man]

Wilder is a victim of his management.

not so sure. you are heavy weight champion
with a brain, you make decisions, at least the
big ones.

[asdfjkl]

He's an untested top 15 ish guy for me.

I won't say he's a bum, but he certainly hasn't proved himself to be a top contender for me.

I must say with that, neither did Tyson Fury.

[davie]

Wilder is more hype than substance as far as I am concerned . The second he fights someone who packs a punch and can stand up to his punches to land their own he will get knocked out.

A lot of people have been singing that chorus for a long time.

And he still hasn't fought a top class opponent!

[greg]

..still has a lot to prove..beating Stiverne was a good start though...

[tiny_acres]

Wilder is more hype than substance as far as I am concerned . The second he fights someone who packs a punch and can stand up to his punches to land their own he will get knocked out.

Stiverne packs one hell of a punch and Wilder took some good shots directly to the chin.
People might not think much of Stiverne now but the guy can crack

[crusader]

As I recall Stiverne hardly landed any clean shots barring one left hook, which seemed to put Deontay on the defensive for a bit longer than usual but failed to do serious damage. Deontay was, however, clearly get staggered by a left hook from Molina, and at times I thought he had the look of a fragile fighter.

I suspect that his chin isn't as bad as many initially thought, but I still don't think that he takes a good shot. Like several other qualities, a fight with Povetkin could tell us more about his durability.

[johnswan1]

Wilder is more hype than substance as far as I am concerned . The second he fights someone who packs a punch and can stand up to his punches to land their own he will get knocked out.

Stiverne packs one hell of a punch and Wilder took some good shots directly to the chin.
People might not think much of Stiverne now but the guy can crack

Stiverne is a fat lazy overrated pig and one of the worst heavyweight champions in the history of the sport.

1 fight in 2012, 1 fight in 2013, 1 fight in 2014, 1 fight in 2015.

He won a version of the heavyweight title by beating another fat lazy overrated pig in Chris Arreola.

Before this Stiverne was knocked out by a tomato can with a losing 11-15 record, drew with a bum with a 17-17-1 record and struggled against Austin and Herring.

[palooka]

Wilder is still learning how to fight and be a 12 round boxer, its both a shame and a blessing that he is world champions; a shame because someone may watch him box and imagine that the standard of heavyweight boxing has plummeted, its a blessing because he does go for a KO win.

I think Povetkin will beat him handily but he has the power to beat most others around though his camp have to be careful they don't pick anyone who will go past 3 rounds and whack him back.

[crusader]

Wilder is more hype than substance as far as I am concerned . The second he fights someone who packs a punch and can stand up to his punches to land their own he will get knocked out.

Stiverne packs one hell of a punch and Wilder took some good shots directly to the chin.
People might not think much of Stiverne now but the guy can crack

Stiverne is a fat lazy overrated pig and one of the worst heavyweight champions in the history of the sport.

1 fight in 2012, 1 fight in 2013, 1 fight in 2014, 1 fight in 2015.

He won a version of the heavyweight title by beating another fat lazy overrated pig in Chris Arreola.

Before this Stiverne was knocked out by a tomato can with a losing 11-15 record, drew with a bum with a 17-17-1 record and struggled against Austin and Herring.

Yep

Tiny says 'people might not think much of Stiverne now', but I never did. I confidently picked Wilder to beat him and for me the main consideration was 40 year old Ray Austin (who is quite similar to Wilder in height and reach) handily outboxing him for nearly 10 rounds simply by jabbing and letting his hands go as Stiverne lazily plodded forward. In fact, in some respects that bout was very similar to Stiverne-Wilder.

[Like a Boss]

..still has a lot to prove..beating Stiverne was a good start though...

[Mr Icaman]

Wilder is still learning how to fight and be a 12 round boxer, its both a shame and a blessing that he is world champions; a shame because someone may watch him box and imagine that the standard of heavyweight boxing has plummeted, its a blessing because he does go for a KO win.

I think Povetkin will beat him handily but he has the power to beat most others around though his camp have to be careful they don't pick anyone who will go past 3 rounds and whack him back.

I think this is one reason why I am not too impressed with the fact he has a belt.

Really he should have had to fight the best to get there and be fighting the best after wining it. If that was the case I would be saying yep you're the champ..

The reality is he has his padded record fought one (dubious) top 10 opponent to get the belt and has had 2 defenses fighting tomato cans who had no right to be fighting for a title..

Just makes a mockery of the division.

[ClivePatrickLyons]

He isn't as good as I thought i'v never seen a heavyweight champion run away from his opponent in the fashion that i'v seen Wilder it is almost amateuris...............come to think of it is[amateuris] he runs in a straight line from one side of the ring to the other... In a straight line something that amateur's get taught not to do at a early stage of their development fighter's are taught to take a side step in either direction before your back
hits the rope's because your opponent is only going to chase you until you got nowhere to go soon he Wilder will pay for this novice mistake big time.