Ok, so he seem's to have stepped up after 38 fights odd, but Ortiz & Fury back-to-back is NO joke! How do people compare Wilder's last two opponents compared to AJ's? Better or not?
Both have fought great opposition in their last two. I thought Povetkin would beat Joshua and I thought both Ortiz and Fury would beat Wilder.
Povetkin's better than Ortiz, Parker and Ortiz are roughly the same level and Fury's better then all three, a motivated Fury that is.
The intention behind fighting fury was all wrong though, he was banking on fury being out of shape and he still got outboxed.
Wilder is legit. He just needed to step up his level of competition to prove it and he's done that in his last two fights. Yes his skillset isn't great but professional boxing is about more than just technical ability and skills. Wilder has other strengths. Punch power being the obvious one. But he also has mental strengths as well. Good attitude, dedication and self belief in abundance.
Since Wlad, AJ has fought Journeyman Plodder Takam, Paint Dry Parker and old man PED Povetkin smashed to pieces by Wlad years ago. The first 2 very poor opponents with PED Povetkin mediocre at best in a rank rotten Heavyweight Division. Says it all when 2 fat puddings are headlining a PPV this month for a Poundland Belt
I'd say Povetkin and Ortiz are on a similar level. Could give either the edge. Parker is a level behind. He really isn't that good. At just 26 though he could get better.
I don't think you can Knock AJ, or Wilder for there last couple of fights. Fury's comebacking fights showed nothing, the draw with Wilder proves he's still a top heavy but I don't there is much in it. Both showed chinks in the armor but AJ in his case ended things decisively. The Parker fight was against another unbeaten title holder and he won clearly. Povetkin is a perennial nearly man who has only lost to Wlad and now AJ. Takam is fine as a late sub making time fight. Whyte deserves a chance of a world title fight again after wins over Brown and Parker so IF he gets past Del Boy i'm fine with AJ v Whyte 2 even if I think the result will be the same. Wilder has been getting grief and rightly so for only fighting Stiverne 1 and then a load of B list fighters - when he could have gone in against Browne, Whyte whoever - but - he then stepped up agaist Ortiz and then took on a come backing Fury in a fight that is now a classic already. Lets hope these big fights continue - we really don't need to see the likes of Molina getting title shots
Ortiz an AJ probably fight it out next year . an the winner of this will be fighting the winner of Fury Wilder Rematch .
I'd love it too, when a young, hungry, strong HW absolutely man-handles Ortiz people can stop blowing smoke up Wilder's ar5e for beating him and we can all get back to reality.
Takam mandatory/late replacement Parker unification Povetkin mandatory. You can’t have a go at Joshua for that.
It's a sign of just how bad boxing can be that we're asked to give credit to a guy who's claims to be the baddest man on the planet for fighting two guys that may actually present something of a challenge. Even then, the first is well past prime and the second was inactive and looked appalling in his two warm up bouts against sub standard opponents. So sure, the two best names on Wilders resume by far and as long as he keeps to the Ring top list for future fights he deserves credit, but isn't facing top ten ranked opponents what champions are supposed to do?
Parker and Charles Martin winning vacant belts together with cruiser Plodder Takam as a mandatory says it all about the rank rotten state of the division. PED Povetkin should have never been near a boxing ring again along with PED Fury. Wilder v Tony Dosh has to be next.