One thing AJ has in his favor is that he doesn't panic under pressure and if Wilder rushes him when he thinks that he has hurt him, it might be lights out for the wild one. However if AJ gets hit like Steverne got hit, it's a wrap.
No one's doubting Wilder has the 'power' to win...... It's just the fact that this is his only way to win, whereas Joshua can with via KO or UD. Wilder's biggest problem is that Joshua is improving his weaknesses all the time, whilst against Ortiz/Washington Wilder has shown no improvement to his defence, or the consistency of his jab. Against Parker we saw significant improvements in Joshua's footwork, defence and stamina. Both can bang, but one is the considerably the better boxer.....Hence he starts as favourite.
To a certain extent I would say his windmills aren't that dangerous. What is dangerous is the lead right hand which comes out of nowhere. I think Wilder is so reckless and off balance when he windmills a good strategy could be to get him in windmill mode and try to counter him.
His windmills will not work on Joshua, plus Joshua will be looking for the right hand, that's all Wilder has got and his right hand comes from left field.......................time to counter..................
I think a bigger problem is that Deontay's windmills can make refs panic. I have seen Deontay get stoppages from his windmilling when he has missed with damn-near every shot and the opponent isn't greatly hurt (e.g. the Szpilka fight). The windmilling looks so dramatic and unhinged that the fight is stopped needlessly, when the only people at risk are Deontay, from tearing a bicep, or the ref, from collateral, blue-on-blue, damage.
He won't. Joshua doesn't have the skills of ol' Luis who almost managed to KTFO Wilder when he whipped up his windmill in the end of the 9th round. Almost ran to that left hand. Wilder is a lucky sob.
You're right, come to think of it, Szpilka was the chap who had Wilder looking very uncomfortable until he was suddenly KTFO. I have pretty solid memories of a few premature Wilder stoppages though (of the lots of shots, none connecting, type). Might have to do a bit of digging to identify them though.
Gerald Washington and Johan Duhaupas ring bells. In fact, Duhaupas took everything Wilder dished out for 11 rounds without even going down once. He wasn't going to be knocked out in my opinion if the referee didn't prematurely stop that fight and that fight would've gone the distance, just like how the first Bermane Stiverne fight did.
I think Wilder will have more problems. Wilder looks to have a wide stance which I think is what has kept him out of anything coming back at him from his opponents, but Joshua is a similar size and various other opponents have still managed to keep close with him on the cards before the finish. I dont think Joshua will be one that gets finished by Wilder. He has shown he can get through big punches and box to clear decisions