How good was Deontay Wilder?

[Spicoli]

I like how you went through each decade. Good job.

I'll go back to Liston. Not to underrate the guy, but Sonny pretty preyed on opposition that was basically scared shitless of him. Ergo, his destruction of guys like Floyd Patterson.
But Liston was a plodder. And then there's Wilder's size and cannon of a right hand like you say. Anything's possible in the ring... but I see Liston being tailormade for someone like Wilder. I think Wilder stops him with a huge right in the early to mid rounds.

From the 70's, no way Wilder comes anywhere close to beating the likes of Foreman or Ali. Frazier... it depends... but a leaping left hook from Smokin' Joe and Wilder goes bye-bye. Frazier was super busy... and that might make all the difference.

By the 90's, heavyweights were already getting bigger and heavier. As you said... Lewis, Bowe, Holyfield... way out of Wilder's league.

Contrary to what some here have said, I don't think Wilder's necessarily done. He doesn't match up well with Fury. That much is clear. But assuming he's still got the hunger to be champion, he matches up pretty well with most other HW's out there. People dump on his lack of boxing skills... but I think he's tried mightily to fix some of the wrongs. He's teachable, even if not 100% so. Today's crop of HW's aren't anything to write home about. You get past the Furys and the Joshuas... there isn't much else out there. Someone like Andy Ruiz would be an interesting test. If the Ruiz who beat Joshua in their 1st fight shows up... it's highly likely Wilder gets beat. But with Ruiz you never know.

One thing Wilder has proven is heart. And that counts for a lot.

That seems like one of the easier ones to make Wilder v Ruiz. They were jawing back and forth about a fight before Andy returned v Arreola and thinking about it pretty interesting styles mix up. Love to see what Ruiz could do with the volume and inside mixing and perfect for Wilder to display that 1-2 and learned patience at range in spots. Then again Ruiz was dropped hard by the other side of Arreola so exactly how urgent would he be to get inside on Wilders eraser. Biggest question for me on Wilder is that grey matter now. Losing is one thing but back to back knockout losses at 36 is a totally different animal.

[SlimTrae]

HW division has always been the most suspect.

Let's Take Foreman as mentioned- This is a guy whose mental makeup-broke down. After Ali he was suspect- & we are not talking the fast fleeing Clay, rather the dude who invented laying on the ropes as some scientific accomplishment.

When Lyle dropped him again and again- While a powerful puncher- I can't say his right is more lethal than Wilder's. So if Ron dropped Lyle- as Cosell stated "This isnt artistic, this is slugging...the way the people want it"

More than likely Wilder drops George too. Does he outbox him the way Jimmy Young did that made him retire? Oh no! But It is more than likely if Wilder catches Young he drops him. And since Shavers had to land that garage sale righthand.. not sure it lands on a guy as tall as Wilder. And I have yet to see a sloppier puncher past 5 rounds than Ernie Shavers.

I think Tim Witherspoon that fought Holmes, dusts Wilder.
The Witherspoon that fought Bonecrusher 2nd time out? Gets laid out...but I truly think the Bonecrusher that laid out Witherspoon 2nd time around KO's Wilder.


The greatest so called of the 1970s & early 80s IMO wouldnt be that tough for Wilder. But the gatekeepers I think would have been disasterous for him.
He beats Shavers, Lyle, maybe a come from behind KO after Jimmy Young boxes perfect for 9 1/2 rounds LOL!
Wilder possibly loses to Tex Cobb. Cob withstands all punishment- Wilder proved he can only take so much.

[TitoFan]

HW division has always been the most suspect.

Let's Take Foreman as mentioned- This is a guy whose mental makeup-broke down. After Ali he was suspect- & we are not talking the fast fleeing Clay, rather the dude who invented laying on the ropes as some scientific accomplishment.

When Lyle dropped him again and again- While a powerful puncher- I can't say his right is more lethal than Wilder's. So if Ron dropped Lyle- as Cosell stated "This isnt artistic, this is slugging...the way the people want it"

More than likely Wilder drops George too. Does he outbox him the way Jimmy Young did that made him retire? Oh no! But It is more than likely if Wilder catches Young he drops him. And since Shavers had to land that garage sale righthand.. not sure it lands on a guy as tall as Wilder. And I have yet to see a sloppier puncher past 5 rounds than Ernie Shavers.

I think Tim Witherspoon that fought Holmes, dusts Wilder.
The Witherspoon that fought Bonecrusher 2nd time out? Gets laid out...but I truly think the Bonecrusher that laid out Witherspoon 2nd time around KO's Wilder.


The greatest so called of the 1970s & early 80s IMO wouldnt be that tough for Wilder. But the gatekeepers I think would have been disasterous for him.
He beats Shavers, Lyle, maybe a come from behind KO after Jimmy Young boxes perfect for 9 1/2 rounds LOL!
Wilder possibly loses to Tex Cobb. Cob withstands all punishment- Wilder proved he can only take so much.

I was sort of going along... until Tex Cobb.

Tex Cobb?? Really?

Yes... Cobb was beaten from pillar to post by much superior boxers, such as Larry Holmes. Cobb's main line of defense was his face, blocking all those shots.

But let's not lose perspective.

None of Cobb's losses were to "one-punch erasers." And... he DID have one KO loss on his record, so it's not like he was never knocked out.

No. Wilder could very easily do a "Dominic Breazeale" on the brave Tex Cobb.

[SlimTrae]

HW division has always been the most suspect.

Let's Take Foreman as mentioned- This is a guy whose mental makeup-broke down. After Ali he was suspect- & we are not talking the fast fleeing Clay, rather the dude who invented laying on the ropes as some scientific accomplishment.

When Lyle dropped him again and again- While a powerful puncher- I can't say his right is more lethal than Wilder's. So if Ron dropped Lyle- as Cosell stated "This isnt artistic, this is slugging...the way the people want it"

More than likely Wilder drops George too. Does he outbox him the way Jimmy Young did that made him retire? Oh no! But It is more than likely if Wilder catches Young he drops him. And since Shavers had to land that garage sale righthand.. not sure it lands on a guy as tall as Wilder. And I have yet to see a sloppier puncher past 5 rounds than Ernie Shavers.

I think Tim Witherspoon that fought Holmes, dusts Wilder.
The Witherspoon that fought Bonecrusher 2nd time out? Gets laid out...but I truly think the Bonecrusher that laid out Witherspoon 2nd time around KO's Wilder.


The greatest so called of the 1970s & early 80s IMO wouldnt be that tough for Wilder. But the gatekeepers I think would have been disasterous for him.
He beats Shavers, Lyle, maybe a come from behind KO after Jimmy Young boxes perfect for 9 1/2 rounds LOL!
Wilder possibly loses to Tex Cobb. Cob withstands all punishment- Wilder proved he can only take so much.

I was sort of going along... until Tex Cobb.

Tex Cobb?? Really?

Yes... Cobb was beaten from pillar to post by much superior boxers, such as Larry Holmes. Cobb's main line of defense was his face, blocking all those shots.

But let's not lose perspective.

None of Cobb's losses were to "one-punch erasers." And... he DID have one KO loss on his record, so it's not like he was never knocked out.

No. Wilder could very easily do a "Dominic Breazeale" on the brave Tex Cobb.

OK! I was going by a single fight- Cob over Shavers. Without that example..yeah the most one can do is...kind of go along with what I said!

[Spicoli]

I give Cobb a pass on the solo ko loss..he wasn't getting one punch erased by anyone. Fair to say around the time he was one foot out the door of boxing while kicking into and balancing a successful movie and TV career. Wilder can't balance himself on two feet . And lest we forget how badly hurt he was with the heavy hands of Molina and Ortiz. Ah love the hypotheticals D.

[Ron Swanson]

A big punch and long levers to deliver that punch making him dangerous. Skill wise he is amongst the worst to ever make it to the top.

[SlimTrae]

A big punch and long levers to deliver that punch making him dangerous. Skill wise he is amongst the worst to ever make it to the top.

And to have stayed on top for 1/2 decade gives us an idea on the affairs of the HW division. Unless one is blessed with talent AND hones their skills.
One punch can erase everything.


https://www.ringtv.com/631720-former...at-retirement/
FORMER WBC HEAVYWEIGHT TITLEHOLDER DEONTAY WILDER HINTS AT RETIREMENT



https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...-b1971886.html
Deontay Wilder hints at retirement from boxing after Tyson Fury defeat

[TitoFan]

I like how you went through each decade. Good job.

I'll go back to Liston. Not to underrate the guy, but Sonny pretty preyed on opposition that was basically scared shitless of him. Ergo, his destruction of guys like Floyd Patterson.
But Liston was a plodder. And then there's Wilder's size and cannon of a right hand like you say. Anything's possible in the ring... but I see Liston being tailormade for someone like Wilder. I think Wilder stops him with a huge right in the early to mid rounds.

From the 70's, no way Wilder comes anywhere close to beating the likes of Foreman or Ali. Frazier... it depends... but a leaping left hook from Smokin' Joe and Wilder goes bye-bye. Frazier was super busy... and that might make all the difference.

By the 90's, heavyweights were already getting bigger and heavier. As you said... Lewis, Bowe, Holyfield... way out of Wilder's league.

Contrary to what some here have said, I don't think Wilder's necessarily done. He doesn't match up well with Fury. That much is clear. But assuming he's still got the hunger to be champion, he matches up pretty well with most other HW's out there. People dump on his lack of boxing skills... but I think he's tried mightily to fix some of the wrongs. He's teachable, even if not 100% so. Today's crop of HW's aren't anything to write home about. You get past the Furys and the Joshuas... there isn't much else out there. Someone like Andy Ruiz would be an interesting test. If the Ruiz who beat Joshua in their 1st fight shows up... it's highly likely Wilder gets beat. But with Ruiz you never know.

One thing Wilder has proven is heart. And that counts for a lot.

That seems like one of the easier ones to make Wilder v Ruiz. They were jawing back and forth about a fight before Andy returned v Arreola and thinking about it pretty interesting styles mix up. Love to see what Ruiz could do with the volume and inside mixing and perfect for Wilder to display that 1-2 and learned patience at range in spots. Then again Ruiz was dropped hard by the other side of Arreola so exactly how urgent would he be to get inside on Wilders eraser. Biggest question for me on Wilder is that grey matter now. Losing is one thing but back to back knockout losses at 36 is a totally different animal.

I know what you mean about the back-to-backs. On the other hand, Wilder showed us a side of him he'd never had to show before. The willingness to go on even as he was being beaten to the punch and was in bad condition..... heart.

Tough to say how his mindset is now after the hard reality that he'll never beat a Tyson Fury.

But let's say his mind and heart are still in it. Other than those two knockout losses, Wilder hasn't been subjected to the type of career that leads to "Punch-Drunk City." He also showed he can more than hang with big bangers like Luis Ortiz.

That's what leads me to believe that... IF... he still has his winning mentality... he can still beat most other HW's out there today.