What do you think?
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What do you think?
I like Nicolai Firtha, he's an honest journeyman with a lot of heart.
But it's time Deontay Wilder (29-0, 29 KOs, five years as a pro) stepped up to better competition. It's not like he has injuries, or a broke promoter without a TV contract, or isn't fully capable of beating decent journeymen like Kevin Johnson, Manuel Charr, Malik Scott, Mariusz Wach and Dominick Guinn.
The HW division needs a star American. Deontay fits the role and I think he has the required talent, but he's becoming thought of by many as a joke like Tye Fields or David Rodriguez.
this is a pointless fight for Wilder.
Schaffer actually used to the phrase "bring along similiar to a Seth Mitchell" a couple of weeks ago when saying he'd be on this card.
That is some seriously bad ju-ju when talking any "serious" contender. Firtha has been knocked stiff by a Fury and a Tye Fields...4 years ago. Not exactly raising the bar high with this for a 31st fight. More of the same.
Great fight for Wilder, glad to see him step up the opposition.. NOT. To be honest I'm giving up hope he's ever going to fight anyone decent.
A guy who got KO`d by Ty Fields is not a respectable step up for Deontay at this juncture.
He really needs to step up to a Chris Arreola, Tony Thompson, Helenius, ect.
Firtha is a joke of a fight.
Haven't heard of the guy, but anyone who lost to Tye Fields is rubbish. Find it hard to believe they couldn't fight a better opponent for Wilder, but maybe since it's a bullshit card in the first place there isn't any money in the slot.
Honestly bud, I don't think they are interested in the least with quality of opposition. Fans are eating blowout KOs up with two forks. This one is simply done to feature him on the East coast for the first time in his career, new exposure blah. Its literally a blown opportunity to show substance over a paycheck and padding a record. Empty.Quote:
Originally Posted by p4pking
I have just about given up on Deontay. He is turning into a joke! Hey, Wilder get off your ass and take a normal sized step up. You are starting to embarrass USA boxing fans. Aren't you the guy who said he wanted a title shot in 2014? WTF are you waiting for, man?
You remind me of Tiny Tim, tiptoeing through tulips. Bronze Bomber, take a chance, do something out side your comfort zone, make a statement, challenge a fighter we all know, act like a real fighter and please start making meaningful fights. We can't be making unfair demands, you are a fighter, right?
Saying that ive just watched Fury v Firtha and he has fury badly hurt early . fury is wide open in every fight.
Zzz
They must be worried about him, maybe that's why no step up.
Stamina issues? Chin? Who knows.
Here's the thing. When Shaeffer talks about the winner of Arreola/Mitchell as a "real possibility" for Wilder, we know now to call Bullsh*t. There are many tougher opponents for him than Firtha. Many. We wouldn't care if they never made it out that Wilder was going to be stepping up the competition, and if they came out and said, we're taking our time with him, but they suggest otherwise, and then spoon feed him opponents. It's ridiculous. We shouldn't believe that we're seeing him in with a life body until it actually happens.
Yep, they were talking about Arreloa but now it's another tomato can. Hopefully they're just keeping him busy and they announce the Arreola fight in a week or two.
It's like trying to teach your kid to become an experienced driver but letting him never leave the parking lot. One day he's going to end up in the rain stuck between two tractor trailers and shit himself.
I agree something is up as to why he is not stepping up. There must be an issue like a weak chin or he cannot go past 8 rounds.Quote:
Originally Posted by Vendettos
Jesus this is one shit card. Fight will end in round 1. I cant imagine who would want to go see this card
Are we talking about THE... Nicolai Firtha??
Obviously there is something off about either Wilder or his management; but in his defence at least he hasn't underperformed against any of the stiffs he's been in with. Liakovich might have still been a half decent test for many young hopefuls, it's hard to know for sure. Opposition aside, he's clearly got far more upside than any other HW prospect, he is a huge athletic guy and a serious puncher. Definitely time to find out whether he can fight though.
El Bump: take two
Anyone see Wilder standing on the scale eating that pie? I didn't get that, but its certainly not his first cream puff :D
Firtha isn't a very good opponent for a 29-0, 29 KO boxer. Here he is against Tye Fields:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=vW-tDoTfomg
Yeah I wouldn't classify anyone who gets KO'd by Tye Fields to be much competition. Hopefully now Deontay has had his share of stiffs and is ready to take it to the next level.
Fucking hell!
Wilder was hurt by the first JAB that Firtha threw!
He got a bit of exeperience against someone who is fairly tough but this is someone Fury fought in his 15 th fight not his 30th and in the Fury fight Firtha looked in better condition to boot.
Wilder is soooo sloppy when attacking. Wide open and most of his shots completely miss. The knockdowns he was awarded were more pushes.
He needs more of these tough men type opponents in quick succession. Any talk of Arreola or anyone imside the top 15 is too soon based on what I saw. He will end up like Price if they jump too high too fast. You can see hes still learning. Hes not terrible but he should be far better having 30 fights. He fights like hes had just a handfull of bouts rsuhing his own work.
Maybe we should just resign ourselves to the fact that Deontay Wilder has found his own niche, and neither he nor his handlers are in any hurry to venture away from the safety of that niche. Maybe Wilder will end his career at 50-0, with 50 KO's..... and will be happy being nothing more than a curious footnote in the pages of boxing history.
I for one, am tired of waiting for anything more.
;D @ross at it again. You mean Wilder was momentarily knocked off balance from a jab right? You want to see hurt from a jab look at about a minute into the first round, Firtha stops coming forward after eating one.
Firtha did OK with the 60 seconds of fight he had in him. Areola would be a serious test for Wilder. Not sure how well he copes with a guy that keeps marauding forward. Take away Wilders punching room and he looks pretty useless.
Never Saw wilder before last night. Thank God. Part michael grant, part kayode, with a sprinkle of dawson. Yeesh. Wide winging shots, loading up, overextending, carrying his hands low... A lot of mistakes stem from his attitude. The next attraction in the size + athleticism sideshow in the HW division as long as they keep restocking the plodders, weathered journeymen, timid guys that like to pace themselves, etc.. Keep him the hell away from sharp counter punchers, straight punchers with reach, guys with head movement that know how to circle out, and guys with stubby hooks that will throw with him on the inside. Anyone else see some ugly KO's coming to this guy when glancing into his future? This decade's Derrick Jefferson. Just my opinion of course.
He makes mistakes and they are becoming repetitive and he's digging a deep hole growing stale at this level, not correcting and not learning. He has a casual false confidence thing going on, the kissing the camera, the electric boogaloo dancing after a ko, dropping hands and smirking at this level. A ko of a Firtha was 100% expected and a confident self aware guy should react composed. The dude is getting way to far ahead of his actual accomplishment and I think he is standing on the track using the light of the oncoming train to read his own headlines. I see him getting badly beat when he finds the stones to go from the kiddie pool into the ocean. He's losing the gradual transition opportunity most fighters get and has enough cans on his record to open a soup kitchen.
Couldn't have said it better myself. Golden boy knows this. Wilder is golden boy working an angle in a barren American heavyweight division. Find a big Kid, build him up and make him a star, get him a title fight and bet against him and cash out.Quote:
Originally Posted by Spicoli
Wilder is the new Butterbean.
No wonder they keep feeding him shrimp. He's got more holes then a block of Swiss cheese. And the way he commits to fighting somebody with a pulse leaves a lot to be desired. He's a hype job with a punch who throws it from the next town over.
Really sounds like they are going to let him waltz through the backdoor and fight Stiverne for vacant Vitali trinket.Quote:
Originally Posted by IamInuit
Quote:
Originally Posted by SpicoliReally sounds like they are going to let him waltz through the backdoor and fight Stiverne for vacant Vitali trinket.Quote:
Originally Posted by IamInuit
Well you can add prophet to the resume.
FNQuote:
The next fight for unbeaten heavyweight Deontay Wilder (30-0, 30 KOs) could be for the WBC title that is expected to be vacated by 42-year-old champion Vitali Klitschko who has been out for all of 2013 with an injury and already has plans for 2014 and beyond. “With the news we got last week that Vitali Klitschko was going to be running for president of the Ukraine, I anticipate he will no longer fight and that the title will become vacant,” said Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer. “My goal is to have Deontay fight in his next fight for the WBC heavyweight championship against Bermane Stiverne. And after that go for Wladimir Klitschko, unify all titles and become undisputed heavyweight champion.” Wilder is currently rated WBC #3.
I thought Wilder looked like crap last night, but a fight with Stiverne would be a good thing whether it's for a belt or not. Wilder could easily lose that and would imo, it's a massive step up for him as Stiverne is a decent fighter who can counter punch.
I'd like to see him fight somebody! He should have had Firtha out of there in the first round, but he was too busy flexing his pecs. He is in his 30s isn't he? he acts like he just turned 15. Talk about arrested development.Quote:
Originally Posted by p4pking
He looks the same as the first time I saw him, green as hell. His jab did seem to get Firtha's attention and he has a strong right hand, but they need to start pushing him.
He was missing wildly with rights, lefts and continually out of position.
30 wins, 100% KO record and we still don't know what he can do.
All we know is that he looks green, he's the mystery man .
Deontay 'Bronze Mystery' Wilder
Quote:
Originally Posted by Memphis
He wasnt just knocked off balance.
Firtha had no intention of winning or he wouldnt have turned upin the shape that he did but Wilder did barely anything more impressive than a 15 fight novice (Fury) did 4 years ago;D
I agree. Fury did a much better job of stumbling around the ring grabbing hold like a limpet because you've just been chinned.
Anyone see the press conference??? These people are off there rocker. Turns out Firtha is a Wlad sparring partner, he and Wilder worked together. I didn't know that. He's running on like this was a major defining victory..."showed my sniper punches, came back hard and took some really hard shots from a very tough dude" on and on.
Schaffer couldn't even get Stiverne name right...Chris Stiverne. I'm calling horseshit on this whole manufactured ordeal. What a joke. I want a U.S champ but one that is required to win more than a lone meaningful fight ffs. Stiverne better have a test taster try his lunch in the lead up first.
:S it does seem a bit dodgy :S.... but if that does happen at least he would be taking on someone who earned the shot and if he did wiin the title he couldnt hide anymore...Quote:
Originally Posted by SpicoliReally sounds like they are going to let him waltz through the backdoor and fight Stiverne for vacant Vitali trinket.Quote:
Originally Posted by IamInuit
The FACT on Wilder is that no one wants to fight him at this stage, seeing what they have seen from him. His handlers went to a few of the top HW's and they didn't want the fight- BECAUSE it was high risk and no cash reward to fight him.
I think they latter part is becoming less and less of an excuse, because everyone is wanting to see Wilder step it up with an active guy.
But he has been asking around for fights. This is simply a case of too few HW's wanting to get in the ring with him at this stage.
The only time we WILL see Wilder tested, in the ring with a top guy, is when he is either a 1. title eliminator, where he will have to fight a guy between the 1st and 3rd contender spot; and 2. is if he fights for a title, whether left vacant or one of the belt holders that happen to be a Klit, until something changes like Vitali retiring before the end of 2014.
So this is where we have it now. It reminds me of the Tyson years before he jumped in there with Berbick. Aside from Mitch Green (which really is a stretch) and James Tillis (a very good journeyman on the fringe at the time) all of Tyson's other fights were against stiffs and inexperienced lambs to the slaughter. Even Ferguson, which you may say was a step up, really wasn't a step up for Tyson.
So, let's see Wilder unferl.
It does feel like stars emerged naturally a while back doesn't it , now were getting manufactured hype machines.Quote:
Originally Posted by Spicoli