Really wish we could search further than 4 pages as my opinion really has not changed all that much since he was riding Amir Khan undercards. Very careful and selective match making. For lack of a better term I've always thought he had a lot of 'manufacturing' to thank for being viewed as some mythical Thors hammer and it pretty much showed out once he hit the championship best faced level. His first 25 opponents were woefully bad. Do a deep dive and it's very telling as they were a mix of former Lt heavyweights, cruiserweights, some off multiyear layoffs and others were basically professional stunt men. Simply put...cannon fodder to pad that record with glossy KO's. #15 a Lt hvy. #20 was a Lt hvy 5 years inactive. #25 Damon McCreary debuted at middleweight and came in off a 5-year layoff with just 1 fight over 185. We know fighters have soft touches, but there was a reason his first half were left as highlight clips on Fox Espanol cards or the local bingo hall. Unfortunately Wilder became a fighter who incorporated his flaws as part of his overall game. He got a pass because there was no vital adversity coming back at him. Once you hit the "big stage" you simply cannot learn backwards. Moving forward he became a one trick pony with the now vaunted TV friendly eraser.
There was a mini buzz for his Showtime debut vs the 6'6 ex basketball player Kelvin Price. The manufacture serving its purpose. And coincidentally enough it was also the first WBC awarded to 26-0 Wilder
. Then it was to Mexico to ko Matthew Greer who had already been flattened by James Toney and would be flattened by Andy Ruiz two months later. I think Primo had the right idea with a line by line so trying that..
#28- Audley Harrison was used up but was smart marketing. Harrison had a mini run with tourney win and UK debut for Wilder. Fair enough.
#29- Siarhei Liakhovich also used up and 1.5 year out after being KO'd by a 12-0 Bryant Jennings. Think about that. BUT the White Wolf gave Andy Ruiz a good fight next out.
#30- Nicolai Firtha last fight for Firtha. Had already been ko'd by Fury and Tye Fields
#31- Malik Scott does anyone remember Scott wearing a brown paper bag over his head at the weigh in? That actually happened. He was ranked
23 by the WBC
#32- Jason Gavern oof. Nice enough guy. Only thing memorable is how sloppy Wilder was and his literally telling Gavern what punches to throw before the end.
#33- Bermane Stiverne 1. I liked this fight for Wilder. Stiverne in shape and fresh. Actually, thought Wilder fought smart and showed patience and working jab.
#34- Eric Molina. Ranked 26 by the WBC and three months later Molina was ranked 11
. Tough guy though. Easy to forget he had Wilder badly hurt to the body and rocked him before going out.
#35- Johann Duhaupas. Not ranked in top 40 by WBC. Six months later come fight time he was 12
. But a tough dude and another that was a tough fight for Wilder. Recall Wilder being pretty busted up before taking him out.
#36- Artur Szpilka. Came in 6 weeks notice after Wilder vs Glavkov fell thru. One of the first come from behind nice KO's for Wilder. He was getting his ears boxed.
#37- Chris Arreola. Unranked by every sanctioning body and on a bad slide. Saw him get outboxed by Curtis Harper year prior but get w. Wilder claims multiple injuries post fight after Chris stays on his stool.
#38- Gerald Washington. Late sub for Wilder. Another "big" man who was on a little run but limited. Outboxing Wilder before stopped. 5 months later he was stopped by Big Pharma Jarrell Miller.
#39- Bermane Stiverne II. Stiverne late sub and built like a parade float. He had already accepted step aside money to
not fight Wilder but replaced Luis Ortiz after he was popped for PEDs. He had no desire to be there but Wilder got that distance win erased and KO monicker back.
#40- Luis Ortiz I. Fresh off half ass PED suspension but ranked 5th by the Ring. This imo was Wilders best win. It was a war and Wilder on the brink of being stopped twice before he came back. Very impressive ko for him all in all.
#41- Tyson Fury I. Tough enough fight but felt Fury largely outboxed and out foxed Wilder. The dramatic KD's were highlights and tilted much of the draw result. But had Fury winning. And it was no turning back with Wilder convinced all he needed was a right hand bomb. Not be a knob, but somewhat the beginning of the end for Wilder.
#42- Dominic Breazeale. Already beaten by Joshua this was a comparable for Wilder. Breazeale had the speed of an ice glacier and was a deer in the headlights. Perfect KO for Wilder.
#43- Luis Ortiz II. Good rematch and repeat of his best win. Again was being outboxed cleanly until catching Ortiz and catapult into Fury rematch.
#44- Tyson Fury II. A needed rematch. But Fury learned from first fight Wilder did not. Gritty but wasted Wilder was beaten from pillar to post and Mark Breland did exactly what a cornerman needed to do, save his fighter. Then he was fired.
#45- Tyson Fury III. Let's be honest. Absolutely no one wanted or needed this fight. Fury was talking BS of an AJ fight all the while knowing Wilder had the legal court order to pull. Wilder huge 4th but again beaten up.
#46- Robert Helenius. Wilder back after year away. Helenius had rebuilt after being flattened by Gerald Washington with wins over hyped Kownacki. Statement KO to say "I still have it" for Wilder, he did what he had to do. And then he dodged matches with top contenders and stayed inactive for 14 months
#47- Joseph Parker. Wilder shows what massive inactivity and constantly overrating his power arrives at. Mentally and physically listless and indifferent throughout. He got complacent, too content and over fed waiting on "big Saudi money" and it all blew up on him. The End.
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Re: Wilder resume.
Originally Posted by Spicoli
Really wish we could search further than 4 pages as my opinion really has not changed all that much since he was riding Amir Khan undercards. Very careful and selective match making. For lack of a better term I've always thought he had a lot of 'manufacturing' to thank for being viewed as some mythical Thors hammer and it pretty much showed out once he hit the championship best faced level. His first 25 opponents were woefully bad. Do a deep dive and it's very telling as they were a mix of former Lt heavyweights, cruiserweights, some off multiyear layoffs and others were basically professional stunt men. Simply put...cannon fodder to pad that record with glossy KO's. #15 a Lt hvy. #20 was a Lt hvy 5 years inactive. #25 Damon McCreary debuted at middleweight and came in off a 5-year layoff with just 1 fight over 185. We know fighters have soft touches, but there was a reason his first half were left as highlight clips on Fox Espanol cards or the local bingo hall. Unfortunately Wilder became a fighter who incorporated his flaws as part of his overall game. He got a pass because there was no vital adversity coming back at him. Once you hit the "big stage" you simply cannot learn backwards. Moving forward he became a one trick pony with the now vaunted TV friendly eraser.
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