Who is the most over-protected boxer?

Who is the most over-protected boxer right now?

Who most badly needs to step up?

 

I'd say Deontay Wilder is the most over-protected right now. He's turning 28 this month. He's been a pro 5 years now.

Wladimir Klitschko had his first pro fight on Nov 15, 1996 at age 20. Then he had 17 fights in his first 14 months as a pro, against the expected soft opposition. But towards the end of his 3rd year, he was fighting decent, durable opponents like Axel Shultz, who had never been down before fighting Wlad. In his 4th year, he fought prime Monte Barrett (who had never been down before) and then Chris Byrd, winning the WBO title at age 24.

Deontay Wilder had his first pro fight on Nov 15, 2008. He had 8 fights against the expected soft opposition in his first 14 months as a pro. But by late into his 3rd year, instead of fighting decent journeymen, he still fought very soft opposition. Now, at the end of his 5th year, he's still fighting easy opposition at age 28!

Deontay is still a work in progress, and I think he may have great potential. But he's not going to improve fighting shot boxers like Sergey Lyakhovich (who had just 2 wins in 7 years and had been stopped in his two previous fights), old men like Audley Harrison, pot-bellied clubfighters like Greer, or retired former middleweights like Marlon Hayes. He should at least be fighting decent DURABLE journeymen like Kevin Johnson and Dominick Guinn after 5 years as a pro.

Tony Thompson would give him the kind of test he needs right now, but instead he's fighting Nicolay Firtha. Will Deontay finally step up in his 6th year as a pro?

 

I think he's capable of beating better opponents.

He could make a statement by becoming the first to stop Kevin Johnson, Dominick Guinn or Mariusz Wach.

 

Deontay Wilder is already far ahead of the others in the poll.