To Wilder's credit-

[ykdadamaja]

-- His opponents are a little more tougher and a helluva lot more skilled since winning the title. While they aren't World Beaters, Duhaupas and Molina showed some skill, and in Duhaupas' case showed some grit to wanna keep fighting when he was getting pounded.

Let's hope they keep finding Wilder "good" opposition, relatively speaking. We know when he gets to Povetkin, Pulev, Jennings, Fury, Chisora and Takam- even before we get to Wlad- it's gonna be another story all together. But let's just hope he keeps getting good and entertaining match ups and fights!

[IamInuit]

-- His opponents are a little more tougher and a helluva lot more skilled since winning the title. While they aren't World Beaters, Duhaupas and Molina showed some skill, and in Duhaupas' case showed some grit to wanna keep fighting when he was getting pounded.

Let's hope they keep finding Wilder "good" opposition, relatively speaking. We know when he gets to Povetkin, Pulev, Jennings, Fury, Chisora and Takam- even before we get to Wlad- it's gonna be another story all together. But let's just hope he keeps getting good and entertaining match ups and fights!

I can appreciate the sugar coating and positive outlook but it does not seem valid. Molina was ranked 44 and Duhaupas ranked 38th, so technically you are correct but its hardly any kind of real progression. Lets not forget that this guy is being paraded around as "world champion". I'd be satisfied just to know what world that is.

They are now playing the calendar game and most likely hoping and praying that Wach ends Povetkins charge. It also seems like the WBC is complicit in looking the other way and even recently saying that he can fight another optional. There is no reason that he should have to go thrrough all those guys before Wlad. Again he calls himself world champion already. He should be calling out that other guy that owns all the other tin and hasn't lost in 11 years. Its shit or get off the pot time. If the Wbc sacks up and forces the Povetkin fight there is nowhere to hide and there is a good chance Wilder will have to travel.

Just compare him to Tyson

Mike took the title from Berbick and that was the WBC at the end of 86
He then unified with Smith (WBA) about 4 months later
He defended both titles against Thomas 2 months after that
He then unified with Tucker (IBF) 2 months after that.
Defended all against Biggs 2 months later
Starched Holmes 2 months later and then Tubbs 2 months after that.
Then Spinks 3 months later.

That is how a world champion represents.

[p4pking]

Is this a joke? The only tough and skilled guy he fought was for the title.. I'll give you MOlina and Dupas were tough and came to fight, no shame on them, but WIlder IS sitting on the belt and shouldn't be allowed any more fights like that. Povetkin has the mandatory, no idea what is happening there. You have AJ and Bryant Jennings highly ranked in the WBC, both would beat WIlder imo. Othewise their top 10 is pretty weak, so you can probably expect defenses against Glazkov or Lucas BRowne coming up.

[ykdadamaja]

I never said it was real progression, just that the last two were slightly better. Not better than Stiverne, but better than Salka ala Danny Garcia.

[Master]

Wilder is a world champion who has got the title too early. He wants to learn his trade now in his title defences when he should have learnt them coming up the division. Instead he fought bums to bad his record. Wilder is afraid to lose his title against Povetkin and trying to delay losing to Wlad.

[palmerq]

I don't think you can give wilder much credit at all for the opponents he has taken on since winning the belt, it looked to me like he was cleary trying to find the lowest ranked guy possible to take on in his last defence.. Just look at the names he was rumoured to fight before they settled on the frenchman, the wbc even rejected hughie fury as a possible opponent :S and the japanese heavyweight even mysteriously showed up in the wbc rankings....... and now he wants another optional defence, Wilder is unfortunatley a perfect example of a paper champion, which is a shame because i quite like him.

If he dodges povetkin for his next fight I hope he takes on Briggs, seeing briggs get ko'd would be an acceptable to substitute

[Spicoli]

No