Scott-Wilder is now confirmed for Mar 15 in Puerto Rico. Good to see Deontay, now in his sixth year as a pro, is finally taking on a live opponent. :good:
I agree with IB in that fights between friends are often a let down. The killer instinct of both guys is absent. This fight has curious aspect to it: Scott is 33 and, officially, has won neither of his last 2 fights. If he still has serious ambitions and isn't resigned to simply being a sparring/opponent, he has no time to waste and no fights to throw away. This realisation may breed a strong resolve in him to do all he can to win, even if he took the fight with a subconscious acceptance to do what is expected of him.
Scott showed a complete lack of heart against Chisora . . . So I think once he gets caught by Wilder's windmill pumches, he'll lay down.
Wilder's management would not be taking this fight if they thought Scott was a threat. However, Wilder's chin is SO fragile, even the featherfisted Scott might knock him out.
Deontay Wilder rated #12 Malik Scott rated #35 always considered a step up when fighting a guy a ranked 23 spots below you :rofl
Like I have always said about Malik, he looks like a world beater against people his size because he can control distance, dictate the tempo of the fight and systematically break them down with craft. That won't be the case here. It will look like a sparring session for the first 5 or 6 rounds until Wilder rocks Malik with something he can't see...probably a wide left hook coming behind a right hand, maybe even a feeler right hand feint. Scott will be ready for the jab and the right hand but that rangy left hook is always a little difficult to see.
In this case it is, wich clearly means Scott is ranked too high. Wilder will probably win by come from behind stoppage, but if Scotty can steer clear of the right hand he might beam him up with a 80-72 kinda performance.
In what way? :blood A mediocre puncher against a good puncher with a sugerglass jaw, in wich the guy with the mediocre punch stops punching because he might win for a 2nd time. Against a completely raw, fast big puncher with a presumed glass jaw vs a featherfist technician who outpoints his opponents or loses by 9 count. They're all HW's, and Ameri-cans... but that's where the simularities end I guess.
Certainly possible. Malik is a very highly regarded sparring partner for a reason. He knows his role and I'm sure that Wilder's people know what the situation was when they chose him. He's a crafty technician with all the tools, but he generally doesn't commit to his punches(except for the jab) and he doesn't move a whole lot either. I really believe that Wilder is going to eventually land something...probably a left hook ,either flush or a glancing blow and finish him.