What should be said about Deontay Wilder now?

[Sleepwalker]

Wilder looked a little gassed after the 4th. This was mainly due to him missing so many overexerting hard shots. The body punches landed by Molina may have had something to do with that as well.

Imagine if Molina had committed to the body more often.

Did anyone catch Holyfield's expression right after the fight was called? The first that came to mind, I believed Holyfield was thinking: "i KNOW I could have beaten this guy".

Sure, the commentator said something like: "...and there's Holyfield who looks impressed". I didn't get that vibe at all.

[X]

some thoughts;

Firstly, Evander did look distinctly unimpressed!

1. Wilder is definitely exciting. You can't take your eyes off his fights because SOMETHING will definitely happen. Wlad is a vastly superior fighter, but he is much less exciting.

2. He is a magnificent athlete, good size, looks like a proper athlete with no fat. Good coordination.

3. He seems a classy enough guy, good jab, decent left hook and definitely big knockout power.

4. Unfortunately, he hasn't learned his trade. He has actually had very little ring time to learn to box properly and maximise his assets. I fear this will be his undoing as his defence under pressure was truly awful. He pulls back in a straight line, fends his opponent off with his arms and leans back from the shot with his chin out. You can get away with that for a while, but when he fights someone the same size as him I think he will get tagged

5. He is definitely vulnerable when he gets hit.

I quite like a Wilder, but I suspect his reign may not last long. Wlad would win easily, and I also rate Povetkin as a very good skilled technician. I think Pov might have a little bit too much for Deontay. Unless Wilder connects with an early bomb, I can't see how he beats the Russian. Can you imagine what someone like Vitali, Evander, Riddick or Iron Mike would have done to Wilder?.

[Gandalf]

Wilder is a bit like a HW Amir Khan IMO. He makes a lot of mistakes and will lose fights, but he will always make them fun. I think he gets sparked the minute he fights one of the big men as he goes back in straight lines and doesn't seem sturdy enough.

[tysonesque]

He's a shit champion in a shit heavyweight division.

[TitoFan]

My question is.... is Deontay Wilder teachable?

We all know his bad habits. He holds his hands too low... he moves straight back, his chin a target for a long-armed boxer... he looks amateurish when he goes for the kill, throwing any semblance of defense out the window and leaving himself wide open for a huge counter shot... his head movement leaves a lot to be desired... etc, etc. So can he be taught to correct those deficiencies?

For starters, he's got Mark Breland as a trainer. Now... I'm not gonna criticize the man because I haven't really seen him with other fighters, but.... one thing that struck me during the fight was how subdued Breland sounded. It's like the microphone would have to get really close to the man to be able to hear what he was saying to Wilder between rounds. I'm not saying he has to get in Wilder's face and become a screaming lunatic. But is he the one to help rid Wilder of his bad habits? Can he chew on Wilder's ear enough to improve him?

The raw material is there. Wilder is as athletic and powerful as any HW today. He can be harnessed. He's got raw talent, enthusiasm, and a lot of potential. But I think he needs a next level trainer, as well as some more rounds with credible competition, to bring that potential out.

I for one wish him well. I'm tired of seeing fat, blubbery heavyweights that look nothing like athletes, and those who have faced Wlad seem to cower into a shell.

[Gandalf]

My question is.... is Deontay Wilder teachable?

We all know his bad habits. He holds his hands too low... he moves straight back, his chin a target for a long-armed boxer... he looks amateurish when he goes for the kill, throwing any semblance of defense out the window and leaving himself wide open for a huge counter shot... his head movement leaves a lot to be desired... etc, etc. So can he be taught to correct those deficiencies?

For starters, he's got Mark Breland as a trainer. Now... I'm not gonna criticize the man because I haven't really seen him with other fighters, but.... one thing that struck me during the fight was how subdued Breland sounded. It's like the microphone would have to get really close to the man to be able to hear what he was saying to Wilder between rounds. I'm not saying he has to get in Wilder's face and become a screaming lunatic. But is he the one to help rid Wilder of his bad habits? Can he chew on Wilder's ear enough to improve him?

The raw material is there. Wilder is as athletic and powerful as any HW today. He can be harnessed. He's got raw talent, enthusiasm, and a lot of potential. But I think he needs a next level trainer, as well as some more rounds with credible competition, to bring that potential out.

I for one wish him well. I'm tired of seeing fat, blubbery heavyweights that look nothing like athletes, and those who have faced Wlad seem to cower into a shell.

Good post. Wilder is smart and maybe he has it in him to curb his rawness, but he just seems far too green to be a champion which sounds strange of a man with over 30 fights. His ride to the top has been TOO easy and he should have been testing himself and adapting on the way up. Instead he focused on knocking out journeymen simply to pad a KO record. It might well be his undoing. However, unlike Amir Khan I like the chap and hope he can improve. He just isn't ready for a Wlad Klitschko yet and looks a bit awkward with his belt right now. The last fight should have been much easier than it was. He was lucky his opponent was game yet very limited.

[IamInuit]

Once again the Wbc is involved so we will see where that goes. They are obligated by the "rules" to start negotiations with Povetkin and then if its undecided go to a purse bid. I doubt Haymon can outbid the Russians so look for some weasel like reinterpretation of what was supposed to happen but didn't.

[ykdadamaja]

My question is.... is Deontay Wilder teachable?

We all know his bad habits. He holds his hands too low... he moves straight back, his chin a target for a long-armed boxer... he looks amateurish when he goes for the kill, throwing any semblance of defense out the window and leaving himself wide open for a huge counter shot... his head movement leaves a lot to be desired... etc, etc. So can he be taught to correct those deficiencies?

For starters, he's got Mark Breland as a trainer. Now... I'm not gonna criticize the man because I haven't really seen him with other fighters, but.... one thing that struck me during the fight was how subdued Breland sounded. It's like the microphone would have to get really close to the man to be able to hear what he was saying to Wilder between rounds. I'm not saying he has to get in Wilder's face and become a screaming lunatic. But is he the one to help rid Wilder of his bad habits? Can he chew on Wilder's ear enough to improve him?

The raw material is there. Wilder is as athletic and powerful as any HW today. He can be harnessed. He's got raw talent, enthusiasm, and a lot of potential. But I think he needs a next level trainer, as well as some more rounds with credible competition, to bring that potential out.

I for one wish him well. I'm tired of seeing fat, blubbery heavyweights that look nothing like athletes, and those who have faced Wlad seem to cower into a shell.

Breland, while on paper he is the head trainer, Jay Deas is the one that Wilder listens to during fights. Breland is just there to help preparation and pre-fight conditioning. Jay Deas is the real corner man.

[IamInuit]

My question is.... is Deontay Wilder teachable?

We all know his bad habits. He holds his hands too low... he moves straight back, his chin a target for a long-armed boxer... he looks amateurish when he goes for the kill, throwing any semblance of defense out the window and leaving himself wide open for a huge counter shot... his head movement leaves a lot to be desired... etc, etc. So can he be taught to correct those deficiencies?

For starters, he's got Mark Breland as a trainer. Now... I'm not gonna criticize the man because I haven't really seen him with other fighters, but.... one thing that struck me during the fight was how subdued Breland sounded. It's like the microphone would have to get really close to the man to be able to hear what he was saying to Wilder between rounds. I'm not saying he has to get in Wilder's face and become a screaming lunatic. But is he the one to help rid Wilder of his bad habits? Can he chew on Wilder's ear enough to improve him?

The raw material is there. Wilder is as athletic and powerful as any HW today. He can be harnessed. He's got raw talent, enthusiasm, and a lot of potential. But I think he needs a next level trainer, as well as some more rounds with credible competition, to bring that potential out.

I for one wish him well. I'm tired of seeing fat, blubbery heavyweights that look nothing like athletes, and those who have faced Wlad seem to cower into a shell.

Breland, while on paper he is the head trainer, Jay Deas is the one that Wilder listens to during fights. Breland is just there to help preparation and pre-fight conditioning. Jay Deas is the real corner man.

Yeah but what does he say exactly when they mic the corner? In all seriousness you could stick Mr Potato Head in there atop a button box and most likely get the same results. Lets be honest here, Wilder is on borrowed time and is milking it with his athletic ability and not his boxing fundamentals.
That was a nice score against Stiverne but even a busted clock is right twice a day.

[SlimTrae]

Does other sports have such amnesiac fans as boxing does?
What HOF'er HW hasn't been tested by an average Joe?
There is a thread here about how Bruno outclassed Lennox.

Paul Phillips, Riddick Bowe & Razor Ruddock all stopped Mike Dokes 4 or less, while Holyfield went life and death with Dokes taking ten rounds. Holy as a result was called a blown up cruiser...now you guys act as if Holy was bombing out everyone.

Some guy named uh....Wladimir K....didn't get rocked by a journeyman....he got knocked the fuck out by one.

Cassius Clay needed a ripped glove to survive his journeyman scare.

Joe Louis got outboxed and beat up by Conn LHW yet the history books call him a great.

Marciano damn near got his nose ripped out the socket by a nobody before winning.

Same with Wilder.

Every weight class has a great that wasn't challenged by a great but a nobody. Be it Pac man Agapito Sanchez, Cotto against Ricardo Tores...Same with Wilder.

These are the fights where Deontay has to hone his skills, you can't wait till he fights a Wlad to do it.

And no damn HW got to the title as a perfected warrior.

Wilder won by knockout and you guys criticize what occurred in what? One Round?

[TitoFan]

My question is.... is Deontay Wilder teachable?

We all know his bad habits. He holds his hands too low... he moves straight back, his chin a target for a long-armed boxer... he looks amateurish when he goes for the kill, throwing any semblance of defense out the window and leaving himself wide open for a huge counter shot... his head movement leaves a lot to be desired... etc, etc. So can he be taught to correct those deficiencies?

For starters, he's got Mark Breland as a trainer. Now... I'm not gonna criticize the man because I haven't really seen him with other fighters, but.... one thing that struck me during the fight was how subdued Breland sounded. It's like the microphone would have to get really close to the man to be able to hear what he was saying to Wilder between rounds. I'm not saying he has to get in Wilder's face and become a screaming lunatic. But is he the one to help rid Wilder of his bad habits? Can he chew on Wilder's ear enough to improve him?

The raw material is there. Wilder is as athletic and powerful as any HW today. He can be harnessed. He's got raw talent, enthusiasm, and a lot of potential. But I think he needs a next level trainer, as well as some more rounds with credible competition, to bring that potential out.

I for one wish him well. I'm tired of seeing fat, blubbery heavyweights that look nothing like athletes, and those who have faced Wlad seem to cower into a shell.

Breland, while on paper he is the head trainer, Jay Deas is the one that Wilder listens to during fights. Breland is just there to help preparation and pre-fight conditioning. Jay Deas is the real corner man.

Yeah but what does he say exactly when they mic the corner? In all seriousness you could stick Mr Potato Head in there atop a button box and most likely get the same results. Lets be honest here, Wilder is on borrowed time and is milking it with his athletic ability and not his boxing fundamentals.
That was a nice score against Stiverne but even a busted clock is right twice a day.

Boxing fundamentals can be taught, practiced, and learned. Power, speed and athleticism can't. Which is why I think Wilder needs a next level trainer and he needs him now. If Wilder was a clumsy oaf who couldn't get out of the way of his own feet. Or if he had no power... or if the interest just wasn't there.... then I'd say it's a lost cause. But Wilder is like an unpolished diamond. All the necessary attributes are somewhere in there.... he just needs the right person(s) to bring them out.

[imp]

Why does everyone want wilder to fail.

He had a bad day at the office.

Lets see how he performs next time.

[Kirkland Laing]

Why does everyone want wilder to fail.

He had a bad day at the office.

Lets see how he performs next time.

I don't think people want him to fail, it's just that he fought so many bums without really being tested and there are a lot of questions about him. He was fighting a Special Ed teacher on Saturday and the guy had him wobbled.

To be fair there's always an element of schadenfreude among boxing fans when a prospect is exposed, especially if it's his chin that gets cracked. The fact that Wilder is a big motherfunking heavy with a dynamite right hand increases the schadenfreude factor above and beyonf normal levels. If the teacher had sparked him it would definitely have been funny.