This is a tough fight for Wilder & he knows it so this is a reflection of his concerns going into this fight and could even be interpreted as looking for a way out. Testing was what kept Manny and Floyd part for so long afterall.
He was surprisingly bad vs Molina whilst Povetkin has been surprisingly explosive in his last few fights. He doesn’t look the sluggish fighter who once laboured against Huck anymore. Physically he looks much improved and he is the only fighter to face Wvlad in the last decade and actually go out there and try to win.

Should Povetkin take it to Wilder in the same way the American seems unable to retain his composure on the evidence of his last fight and the shots that a slow plodding Molina caught him with would have a much larger affect if it were Povetkin landing them. Ofcourse Wilder could get lucky and catch Povetkin on the way in but I have the suspicion he will try to box the same way he did in winning the title vs Stivern and keep it long. Problem with that is he doesn’t seem comfortable and looks stuck between styles in his last couple of fights. It doesn’t come naturally and Povtetkin will be without doubt the best fighter he has ever faced so he shouldn’t be boxing in a manner that he isn’t use to or particularly good at in all honesty.

Povetkin will be looking to get into position to land that overhand right and not allow Wilder the room to get off those crude swings. Intriguing fight if and when it happens.