Many people who don't pay attention to boxing say it is a "dieing sport" and while that sentiment is completely off base there is a grain of truth to it. Boxing is not a dieing sport but the heavyweight division is most definitely on life support, at least in America it is. There hasn't been a true American heavyweight contender in a decade and whenever a prospect gets fans excited about his potential it manages to end in disappointment.
It was roughly a year ago when ex Michigan State University football player Seth Mitchell was being talked about as the next American heavyweight hopeful. Then against Johnathon Banks and Chris Arreola, Mitchell was exposed as an athletic power puncher with a glass jaw. One thing a heavyweight must be able to do is take a punch, something that Mitchell was unable to. So once again American fans were left to wonder if anyone could step up and reclaim the heavyweight title. While there are a few names who could potentially step up there is one fighter who seems to have the best shot at beating a Klitschko and bringing back the heavyweight title to America, Deontay Wilder.
Wilder is known as an unworldly puncher who has sent opponents to the canvas in convulsions. He holds a record of 30-0 with 30 knockouts which is obviously impressive but should be taken with a grain of salt due to the fact that he has faced lackluster competition. A wrinkle in Wilder's game that hasn't been seen as a professional is his ability to box. Wilder didn't have a very long amateur career but it was a highly successful one that saw him earn a bronze medal in the 2008 London Olympics, making him the last American boxer to medal.
Due to his low level of opposition, Wilder has not had to show all of his weapons, instead simply relying on his massive power to end fights early. But as Wilder is brought along at a snails pace the questions will start to arise, "can Wilder win the heavyweight title" and "is Wilder just another false prophet?" In his last fight against Nicolai Firtha (21-11-1, 8 KO) Wilder was supposed to easily handle him and he did via 4th round knockout. Things were interesting though when in the first round Firtha came out fast and caught Wilder with a stiff jab that knocked Wilder off balance as he stumbled backwards. It still isn't clear if the punch really buzzed Wilder or if he was just off balance and got tripped up as the punch landed, but either way it wasn't something Wilder believers wanted to see.
Clearly Wilder has some flaws in his game and some questions that still need to be answered. His chin hasn't been tested yet and won't be until he faces better competition and he has a tendency to telegraph his punches and leave his chin open. But the positives Wilder brings into the ring and very apparent. He is in excellent physical shape and has the personality to be a star so long as he keeps winning. Most importantly Wilder possesses something that can captivate hardcore and casual fans alike, his power. One reason casual fans love the heavyweight division so much is because a knockout can happen at any time and knockouts are the most exciting part of the sport. Knockouts are something Wilder can deliver seemingly on command but it is unclear whether his unreal power will be enough to earn him the heavyweight title.
Like many fighters today Wilder is content on letting his management and promotional teams pick his opponents and he calls himself a "hitman" who doesn't care who is across the ring from him. However after his 4th round knockout of Firtha there has been some chatter of a fight against fellow power puncher Bermane Stiverne (23-1-1, 20 KO). Stiverne was in Wilder's shoes not to long ago, a fighter who had talent but had never really been tested. That was until Stiverne won a unanimous decision against Arreola in a fight where Arreola suffered a badly broken nose. Stiverne may not be the best the heavyweight division has to offer but he would represent a massive step up in competition for Wilder and would force Wilder to use more weapons than previously seen.
Hopefully when fans next see Wilder in the ring he is fighting Stiverne or another fighter of Stiverne's talent level. If Wilder continues to fight and dominate B-level fighters, fans would certainly lose interest and rightfully so. It is no secret that promoters like to pad their fighters win-loss record early in their careers by pitting them against weaker fighters as they try to build a star. However one can only fighter low level opponents for so long before fans lose interest and boxing minds start to question their talent level. If Wilder continues to fight no name foes then there may be a reason for it, he just may not be that good. But if Wilder looks good when he finally does take that next step up in competition, fans could be looking at the next American heavyweight champion of the world. And as he has shown at his last weigh-in by eating cake on the scale, Wilder has the ability to not only entertain inside the ring but also be captivating outside of it.
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| This could be the lasting image of Mitchell |
Wilder is known as an unworldly puncher who has sent opponents to the canvas in convulsions. He holds a record of 30-0 with 30 knockouts which is obviously impressive but should be taken with a grain of salt due to the fact that he has faced lackluster competition. A wrinkle in Wilder's game that hasn't been seen as a professional is his ability to box. Wilder didn't have a very long amateur career but it was a highly successful one that saw him earn a bronze medal in the 2008 London Olympics, making him the last American boxer to medal.
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| Wilder is a physical specimen |
Clearly Wilder has some flaws in his game and some questions that still need to be answered. His chin hasn't been tested yet and won't be until he faces better competition and he has a tendency to telegraph his punches and leave his chin open. But the positives Wilder brings into the ring and very apparent. He is in excellent physical shape and has the personality to be a star so long as he keeps winning. Most importantly Wilder possesses something that can captivate hardcore and casual fans alike, his power. One reason casual fans love the heavyweight division so much is because a knockout can happen at any time and knockouts are the most exciting part of the sport. Knockouts are something Wilder can deliver seemingly on command but it is unclear whether his unreal power will be enough to earn him the heavyweight title.
Like many fighters today Wilder is content on letting his management and promotional teams pick his opponents and he calls himself a "hitman" who doesn't care who is across the ring from him. However after his 4th round knockout of Firtha there has been some chatter of a fight against fellow power puncher Bermane Stiverne (23-1-1, 20 KO). Stiverne was in Wilder's shoes not to long ago, a fighter who had talent but had never really been tested. That was until Stiverne won a unanimous decision against Arreola in a fight where Arreola suffered a badly broken nose. Stiverne may not be the best the heavyweight division has to offer but he would represent a massive step up in competition for Wilder and would force Wilder to use more weapons than previously seen.
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| Wilder eating cake as he weighs-in |
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