BoxRec

At a press conference held earlier today in New York City, WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder officially announced that he will defend his title against mandatory challenger Dominic Breazeale on May 18th at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

The contest will take place on Showtime Championship Boxing - and not on pay-per-view as previously circulated.



The 33-year-old Wilder had won his first 40 fights, 39 by knockout, before the draw with Fury. Breazeale, also 33, is 20-1 with 18 KOs, with the loss to Joshua nearly three years ago. He has since won three times, twice at Barclays, to get his shot at Wilder.

This fight is now official.

It’s 2 years in the making.. and Breazeale has only fought once in that time.

How that will help him at all? Who knows.

Wilder has just fought Ortiz and Fury back to back. 2 big names. He’s allowed to fight Breazeale.

Although I wouldn’t have minded seeing Whyte vs. Breazeale.

Breazeale's head is the perfect target for Wilder's right. It doesn't move.

Legitimate.

They should have have it on FOX! Maximise exposure as much as possible.

It’ll probably do more than 1 million viewers on Showtime, but would do at least 2-3m on FOX.

I'll watch it but I'm not overly excited about the opponent.
Sounds like Wilder and Fury are lining up easy win opponents before the rematch.
Question is where does this leave Anthony Joshua in terms of future foes.
Hardly like the division is bustling with talent, the Miller fight hasn't exactly got me pumped up and with Fury v Wilder 2 sure to be the next bout after who does Joshua have in mind that will buy him some respect points.

Because Wilder is so much faster than Breazeale this fight strikes me as a fight that Wilder can essentially win whenever he just opens up, and tries to end it.

1st round, 2nd round, 3rd round...not sure when, but the first big assault from Wilder is the end of the fight.

Breazeale is gutsy, and will go for it, but he's slower, he's not as accurate, not as skilled, no tougher...he has no single advantage over Wilder except maybe weight, and I don't think that's exactly helping him since he's slow and ponderous compared to Wilder.

This will be a violent ass kicking.

Evander wrote: ↑19 Mar 2019, 13:08 I'll watch it but I'm not overly excited about the opponent.
Sounds like Wilder and Fury are lining up easy win opponents before the rematch.
Question is where does this leave Anthony Joshua in terms of future foes.
Hardly like the division is bustling with talent, the Miller fight hasn't exactly got me pumped up and with Fury v Wilder 2 sure to be the next bout after who does Joshua have in mind that will buy him some respect points.

Fury/Wilder rematch has a long wait as Wilder's Showtimes deal if for three fights, Breazeale, Wlad, and TBA on third with likelihood of Ortiz rematch. UGH! We may see AJ/Fury before Wilder/Fury rematch.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑19 Mar 2019, 13:11 Because Wilder is so much faster than Breazeale this fight strikes me as a fight that Wilder can essentially win whenever he just opens up, and tries to end it.

1st round, 2nd round, 3rd round...not sure when, but the first big assault from Wilder is the end of the fight.

Yeah, short work for Wilder is how I see it.

Is Wlad seriously going to unretire for a one off shot against Wilder?

Not so much as a tune up?

I’ll believe that when I see it.

Wilder by a KO in the windmilling meatgrinding brawl. Probably after being hurt. Probably ending it early.

Contendeh wrote: ↑19 Mar 2019, 13:21 Is Wlad seriously going to unretire for a one off shot against Wilder?

Not so much as a tune up?

I’ll believe that when I see it.

Did I miss something? Who mentioned Wlad vs Wilder?

gilgamesh wrote: ↑19 Mar 2019, 13:21

Contendeh wrote: ↑19 Mar 2019, 13:21 Is Wlad seriously going to unretire for a one off shot against Wilder?

Not so much as a tune up?

I’ll believe that when I see it.

Did I miss something? Who mentioned Wlad vs Wilder?

reported hes on a deal for breazeale, wlad, then ortiz 2

jamamb wrote: ↑19 Mar 2019, 13:22

gilgamesh wrote: ↑19 Mar 2019, 13:21

Contendeh wrote: ↑19 Mar 2019, 13:21 Is Wlad seriously going to unretire for a one off shot against Wilder?

Not so much as a tune up?

I’ll believe that when I see it.

Did I miss something? Who mentioned Wlad vs Wilder?

reported hes on a deal for breazeale, wlad, then ortiz 2

Hmm...that'd be interesting if so. Looks like they're wanting Ortiz to get older, and less dangerous before fighting him again I'd rather see AJ fight Ortiz in the meantime like he's discussed.

If Wlad is gonna comeback and fight any of the Big 3, then Wilder is the most interesting possible opponent.

The same thing as Joshua vs. Miller - the both fights are border-line mismatches, but the inferior fighters (Miller and Breazele) deserved the fight. Sad, but true.

Wilder by KO/TKO....................

gilgamesh wrote: ↑19 Mar 2019, 13:26

jamamb wrote: ↑19 Mar 2019, 13:22

gilgamesh wrote: ↑19 Mar 2019, 13:21

Contendeh wrote: ↑19 Mar 2019, 13:21 Is Wlad seriously going to unretire for a one off shot against Wilder?

Not so much as a tune up?

I’ll believe that when I see it.

Did I miss something? Who mentioned Wlad vs Wilder?

reported hes on a deal for breazeale, wlad, then ortiz 2

Hmm...that'd be interesting if so. Looks like they're wanting Ortiz to get older, and less dangerous before fighting him again I'd rather see AJ fight Ortiz in the meantime like he's discussed.

If Wlad is gonna comeback and fight any of the Big 3, then Wilder is the most interesting possible opponent.

wlad would get splatted

jamamb wrote: ↑19 Mar 2019, 13:30

gilgamesh wrote: ↑19 Mar 2019, 13:26

jamamb wrote: ↑19 Mar 2019, 13:22

gilgamesh wrote: ↑19 Mar 2019, 13:21

Contendeh wrote: ↑19 Mar 2019, 13:21 Is Wlad seriously going to unretire for a one off shot against Wilder?

Not so much as a tune up?

I’ll believe that when I see it.

Did I miss something? Who mentioned Wlad vs Wilder?

reported hes on a deal for breazeale, wlad, then ortiz 2

Hmm...that'd be interesting if so. Looks like they're wanting Ortiz to get older, and less dangerous before fighting him again I'd rather see AJ fight Ortiz in the meantime like he's discussed.

If Wlad is gonna comeback and fight any of the Big 3, then Wilder is the most interesting possible opponent.

wlad would get splatted

In all likelihood yes, but if he's still able to perform close to the level he performed against AJ he'd have a real shot. It just depends on how much he's slipped since then, and we wouldn't know without seeing him in action again.

how old will he even be then, 43/44? its gonna end brutally for wlad if he fights wilder. wilder mightve well beat prime wlad too.

I can't see anything Brazeale has done in the last 3 years to prepare himself for this fight.
He hasn't earned his #1 spot, it was handed to him. If he had fought Whyte in the last 6 months, and won- which isn't a gimme- he might have a better chance.
He's going to be rusty, out gunned, and out matched.
In saying all that, he might out box Wilder for a few rounds. Maybe.
I doubt Wilder will even give him a chance to ease his way into this fight.
Another KO for Wilder.

..Wlad lost twice in his last two bouts, his last fight was in 2017 and he'll be 43....keep in mind the location...I wouldn't expect any wonders...

KiwiRider wrote: ↑19 Mar 2019, 13:44 I can't see anything Brazeale has done in the last 3 years to prepare himself for this fight.
He hasn't earned his #1 spot, it was handed to him. If he had fought Whyte in the last 6 months, and won- which isn't a gimme- he might have a better chance.
He's going to be rusty, out gunned, and out matched.
In saying all that, he might out box Wilder for a few rounds. Maybe.
I doubt Wilder will even give him a chance to ease his way into this fight.
Another KO for Wilder.

That's 'how mediocre Breazeale is. Wilder can even outbox him. Wilder can't outbox hardly anybody, but I guarantee you he can outbox Breazeale.

If I was Wilder I'd use this opportunity to look like Ali. Bounce around on my toes jabbing the sh*t out of him for the first few minutes of the fight, and then just open up and take him out with a big barrage of punches in the last minute of the 1st or the 2nd round.

I don't see any reason why he couldn't do that, and look good in doing it. He can beat Breazeale to the punch in almost every exchange, all he has to do is be aggressive.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑19 Mar 2019, 13:46

KiwiRider wrote: ↑19 Mar 2019, 13:44 I can't see anything Brazeale has done in the last 3 years to prepare himself for this fight.
He hasn't earned his #1 spot, it was handed to him. If he had fought Whyte in the last 6 months, and won- which isn't a gimme- he might have a better chance.
He's going to be rusty, out gunned, and out matched.
In saying all that, he might out box Wilder for a few rounds. Maybe.
I doubt Wilder will even give him a chance to ease his way into this fight.
Another KO for Wilder.

That's 'how mediocre Breazeale is. Wilder can even outbox him. Wilder can't outbox hardly anybody, but I guarantee you he can outbox Breazeale.

Agreed. This is merely a fight for Wilder to get back on track with big KO's. Breazeale is too slow and too open, with little head movement. Wilder's one-two will take him out early.

Joshua is fighting Miller

Wilder is fighting Breazeale

Now just waiting on Fury to announce his fight.

He will likely have the weakest opponent.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑19 Mar 2019, 14:00 Joshua is fighting Miller

Wilder is fighting Breazeale

Now just waiting on Fury to announce his fight.

He will likely have the weakest opponent.

Yeah at least Miller and Breazeale are Top 10 or borderline Top 10 guys depending on how you look at it. Fringe contenders at worst.

Fury has options, but yeah I wouldn't be surprised if his opponent choice is less inspired.

...you can't help feeling none of the top 3 is anxious to fight each other for WHATEVER reason..