I find it weird Wilder by PTS gets so few votes. If he doesn't get KO'd, the next best chance is he wins by PTS, possibly UD due to significant reach advantage. 4 out of 5 times, the boxer with 8''/20cm reach advantage will be the one winning on points, if the fight is decided by points.
IF they fight (They won't), I will gladly permaban bet you. Povetkin would beat him easily. Same goes for big Fury, Povetkin knocks him out.
Wilder looked much better than expected against Stiverne, but as already pointed out, Povetkin is better than Stiverne. As also pointed out Deontay controlled the distance beffer than any of us reall thought he was going to. That said I think Povetkin beat Wilder, but by hard fough decision. Wilder should have his moments but I think Povetkins workrate and hard punching will win this fight in the end. 7-5 Povetkin.
I don't fully understand the love for Povetkin on this forum. Who has he really beaten? Charr, Takam, and Rahman were the most recent notables. Rahman should have retired years ago, Charr and Takam are a long way from being world beaters. I'm surprised no one has mentioned their one common opponent Nicolai Firtha. Firtha went the distance with Povetkin, Wilder destroyed him in four rounds, and the fight probably should have been stopped in the third. And yet somehow people think he's a lock to destroy Wilder despite Wilder's edge in height reach and power. Doesn't make much sense to me. I realize American fighters have been the doormats of the heavyweight division for awhile now, but people just assume that's going to go on forever. Many people thought Stiverne would destroy Wilder as well, he's not getting near enough of a chance.
Povetkin has a legendary amateur background unlike Wilder, he's beaten every single fighter he's ever faced except Wlad who fought him like a p.ssy and he KTFOd two durable fighters recently one of whom is as good as maybe even better than Stiverne.
Tyrell Biggs and Audley Harrison had great amateur careers too. It doesn't mean that much at this stage, boxers peak out at different times. I think clearly Wilder has a higher ceiling than Povetkin, he has the edge in height reach and power. The only real doubts about him are his boxing skill and ability to take a punch, he answered a lot of that with Stiverne. Don't get me wrong, not saying Povetkin is garbage, but I think he is overrated on this forum and Wilder is not getting enough respect. As for the Klitchsko fight, looked to me like he just plain kicked his ass all over the ring, Povetkin went down how many times in that fight? Yes it was Wlad who is undoubtedly a great fighter, but Wlad hasn't really fought anyone I would call great since David Haye. And David Haye was only about 80% when he fought him with a busted up foot Bryant Jennings was relatively inexperienced and not a puncher, and he handled Wlad better than Povetkin did I felt.
^This. Povetkin is a real fighter with a good skill set and lots of valuable experience. Wilder is the best toughman competitor of all time.
Povetkin's style is perfect to cause Wilder problems and I'll be surprised if Wilder would be able to adjust. If Povetkin wins next Friday, he'll become a mandatory for Wilder so, after Wilder's disgraceful title defense against Molina, I'm sure we'll see that fight, and most possible in Moscow.
He went down four times but only one of them was legit and Wlad didn't beat him with his punches, he beat him with his size and strength like a wrestler. Wilder doesn' have the strength or experience of Wlad nor his jab is as powerful as Wlad's. I just can't see him beating Povetkin.