Deontay Wilder could be what the HW division needs

[ykdadamaja]

If Wilder happens to beat Stiverne, odds are he ducks Jennings, Pulev, and is forced to fight Fury and begrudgingly gives a shot to Arreola only through ducking the other top names or just not being able to sell the other bums in the division.

[Master]

Wilder is the most explosive heavyweight we have ever had that no one is excited about in the history of the division.

What does that say about him?

[TitoFan]

I think his handlers get 100% of the blame. He'll never get the chance to polish his skills if his handlers don't start putting him in there with real contenders. But that's where the rankings might help nudge the process along. I would like think that even in a sport as corrupt and bewildering as boxing, a top ranking would force you to meet other top contenders. Then again, I'd like to think I'll win the Lottery next week, also.

[ykdadamaja]

I think his handlers get 100% of the blame. He'll never get the chance to polish his skills if his handlers don't start putting him in there with real contenders. But that's where the rankings might help nudge the process along. I would like think that even in a sport as corrupt and bewildering as boxing, a top ranking would force you to meet other top contenders. Then again, I'd like to think I'll win the Lottery next week, also.

It's our fault as fans because we trash the division so much. But, Wilder had already stepped in with Kelvin Price and Malik Scott- he trashed them. He also stepped in with a Liakovich, and old Liakovich, but he stepped in with him anyways.

He has stepped up his class of fighters. Just a bit. But what you want to do is see him in with a live guy you consider to be dangerous. Well, if you look at the division, there aren't many of them around. So, how long must he wait if title fights are there and no one wants them or has the marketability to seize them?

Everyone knows Wlad is the champ. If Wilder beats Stiverne the only thing he would do to himself is put a target on his back for a trinket that is meaningless in the eyes of Wlad.

But, I would like to see Wilder in with: Fury, Arreola, JENNINGS, Chisora or Wach. Just to see how he responds.

[TitoFan]

I think his handlers get 100% of the blame. He'll never get the chance to polish his skills if his handlers don't start putting him in there with real contenders. But that's where the rankings might help nudge the process along. I would like think that even in a sport as corrupt and bewildering as boxing, a top ranking would force you to meet other top contenders. Then again, I'd like to think I'll win the Lottery next week, also.

It's our fault as fans because we trash the division so much. But, Wilder had already stepped in with Kelvin Price and Malik Scott- he trashed them. He also stepped in with a Liakovich, and old Liakovich, but he stepped in with him anyways.

He has stepped up his class of fighters. Just a bit. But what you want to do is see him in with a live guy you consider to be dangerous. Well, if you look at the division, there aren't many of them around. So, how long must he wait if title fights are there and no one wants them or has the marketability to seize them?

Everyone knows Wlad is the champ. If Wilder beats Stiverne the only thing he would do to himself is put a target on his back for a trinket that is meaningless in the eyes of Wlad.

But, I would like to see Wilder in with: Fury, Arreola, JENNINGS, Chisora or Wach. Just to see how he responds.

It still pisses me off to think about the Malik Scott fight. Here was a chance for Wilder to show that he's trying to move up in opponent quality.... and Scott turns in that pitiful effort. To this day I don't think anyone can say for certain whether that was a legitimate KO, or whether Scott just decided to call it a day.

Regardless, I still think if only Wlad would hang around for 2-3 more years, we could still have a hell of a heavyweight event, the likes of which we haven't seen in years. That's assuming, of course, that Wilder doesn't fall on his face between here and there.

Still... it doesn't hurt to hope!

[beenKOed]

Wilder is the most explosive heavyweight we have ever had that no one is excited about in the history of the division.

What does that say about him?

It says, he makes it look too easy. When we see guys being taken out with single punches on a regular basis, it makes us think 'bum', 'cherry pick', or 'fix'.
So, I think it says more about us than about him, we've been 'sucked in' too many times and have become..skeptics.
If he keeps making it look too easy, I don't think he'll ever get the respect he could/might deserve. What I mean is his success would be attributed to the sorry state of the heavyweight division.

[TitoFan]

Wilder is the most explosive heavyweight we have ever had that no one is excited about in the history of the division.

What does that say about him?

It says, he makes it look too easy. When we see guys being taken out with single punches on a regular basis, it makes us think 'bum', 'cherry pick', or 'fix'.
So, I think it says more about us than about him, we've been 'sucked in' too many times and have become..skeptics.
If he keeps making it look too easy, I don't think he'll ever get the respect he could/might deserve. What I mean is his success would be attributed to the sorry state of the heavyweight division.

Interesting point. Agreed on the point of us boxing fans becoming skeptical.

It makes for some interesting speculations on how different scenarios would be received from a potential Wilder-Stiverne fight.... IF.... and when.... it ever happens.

(Scenario 1: Wilder KO's Stiverne early)
(Scenario 2: Wilder gets caught, loses to Stiverne by KO/TKO)
(Scenario 3: Fight somehow goes 12 rounds, ends in controversial decision (what else is new?))
(Scenario 4: For some reason, fight ends early (accidental headbutt, one of them is unable to continue, etc)


How would Scenario 1 be received? Would we then be convinced that Wilder is the future of HW boxing? Or would we dismiss Stiverne as just another bum?

How about Scenario 2? Would we dismiss Wilder as an overhyped bum who was finally exposed? Or would we merely say he just learned his first lesson in Boxing 101, and will rise again to challenge for a championship?

Scenario 3 would mostly likely never happen. I just don't see Wilder having enough gas to last through a 12-round fight. Hell... no one's ever taken him into the 5th round.

The skepticism in me feels Scenario 4 would be more than a 50/50 likelihood. Something always manages to go wrong, just when we're most anticipating a finally defining moment.

[Spicoli]

Did everyone miss Wilders last fight Honestly the division doesn't need heavyweights with more questions than answers or some American riding in on a white Pony to save it, what it needs are young talent willing to fight one another and earn credentials. Gavern got UP, as have many of Wilders lighter opponents when hit with his massively overstated "one punch power". Gavern was mocking him and yelling instructions FFS Sometimes it never even lands. Come on? How can a guy like Jennings be so easily dismissed while taking risks, fighting and beating contenders, having questions asked but prevailing...and Wilder being hailed as a sensation or some beast while fighting absolutely no one, hardly if at all being pressed or caught clean in adversity and having sparring partners and stunt men served on a platter. HOW is that exciting? Its just all backwards for me. Jennings has shown me more in his last 4,5 fights than Wilder has over 10 or 15, seriously.

You have to step up to rise above, and Wilder has been an exercise in mediocrity and manufacturing if I'm honest. You gotta demand more man and look beyond the packaging and plastic keys being waved in out faces.

[TitoFan]

Well... it hardly matters. I'm hearing rumblings of Wlad retiring soon, and the whole point was having a challenger that could actually pose a danger to Wlad. That's not gonna come from Jennings, no matter how much we would like it to. Wilder at least represents that homerun possibility, and like typical homerun sluggers, he either knocks it out of the park, or strikes out swinging.

You can dismiss Wilder's record as nothing but a collection of bums, but I don't see how you can dismiss the power of someone who's yet to see the 5th round of any fight.

If Jennings is the next "big thing", then why aren't we making a fight with Wlad already?

[Spicoli]

Well... it hardly matters. I'm hearing rumblings of Wlad retiring soon, and the whole point was having a challenger that could actually pose a danger to Wlad. That's not gonna come from Jennings, no matter how much we would like it to. Wilder at least represents that homerun possibility, and like typical homerun sluggers, he either knocks it out of the park, or strikes out swinging.

You can dismiss Wilder's record as nothing but a collection of bums, but I don't see how you can dismiss the power of someone who's yet to see the 5th round of any fight.

If Jennings is the next "big thing", then why aren't we making a fight with Wlad already?

Sorry bud just color me not convinced at all. I'm not ready to call him a home run slugger either. When he is flattening top 10..top 15 heavyweights I'll bite. I look at going the distance as a plus really. Numbers can be run up and misleading as we've all seen far too many times. That same bomb he is hoping for..counting on.. can be just as disastrous to himself when he has yet to slip a counter combination and have someone in front who refuses to feint over and puts him on his heels.

Maybe we should be making it By all accounts Jennings won his title eliminator by beating a top 5 heavyweight by the sanctioning body. Wilder won his eliminator by beating a guy coming off a KO loss..and rated what, 25, 26 th? and with a questionable ending and effort. Its little wonder Scott wore a brown paper bag over his head at the weigh in. I mean really . Who in the world thought that was a good idea Wilder is where he is because fans love glossy shiny things and have had it pushed down our throats, with all respect. More so because he knows and is packaged by a squirrely man by the name of Al Haymon who frankly is jerking his chain around with delays etc. Is his shot actually signed yet? That's one we deserve and I'm itching for it just like you, but beyond relying on a bomb..I honestly don't think Wilder has the full game to climb his way out of a hole when he faces an actual threat.

[IamInuit]

Well... it hardly matters. I'm hearing rumblings of Wlad retiring soon, and the whole point was having a challenger that could actually pose a danger to Wlad. That's not gonna come from Jennings, no matter how much we would like it to. Wilder at least represents that homerun possibility, and like typical homerun sluggers, he either knocks it out of the park, or strikes out swinging.

You can dismiss Wilder's record as nothing but a collection of bums, but I don't see how you can dismiss the power of someone who's yet to see the 5th round of any fight.

If Jennings is the next "big thing", then why aren't we making a fight with Wlad already?

I think its a sad testimony that the moment Vitali retired that scam of a title was not immediately given up for Wlad to fight for. Its a bloody crime given all the horse shit that goes on. Its almost beyond description on the bullshit meter and I dont even like Wlad. If Vitali was not his brother, we would have had an undisputed champion for a change a long time ago.

[TitoFan]

If Wilder happens to beat Stiverne, odds are he ducks Jennings, Pulev, and is forced to fight Fury and begrudgingly gives a shot to Arreola only through ducking the other top names or just not being able to sell the other bums in the division.

Although I wouldn't call it "ducking", that order would make some sense. First off, a victory over Stiverne (and I don't see any decision wins in Wilder's immediate future) would be a significant achievement. Boxing would at least raise an eyebrow. He's still a bit raw to face someone like Jennings, but Fury or Arreola would be logical next steps. Assuming he gets past those (I see no problem with visualizing a win over Fury), then Jennings and/or Pulev. I don't Wilder himself will be "ducking" anybody, as he certainly doesn't seem to lack for confidence. It's all in what his bumbling handlers cook up for him.