Long time Wilder fan, and watching him through the years made boxing really interesting. Whether you are fan or not, he has been exciting to watch because of that power. I think he could have just about won today if he was more match ready and if he was prepared to throw a lot more punches - the big right hand would have inevitably opened up for him. But going by his comments afterwards, he doesn't seem to have the fight in him anymore. Normally in these interviews he comes out fighting regardless of the result - this time he even mentioned he may not be back. I understand he is 38 and it happens to every sportsperson. He still has one or two more fights in him if he wants to train and remain active, his body is in decent enough condition but it doesn't sound like he's going to have to will to put the effort in to remain a top 5 fighter. If he had more fights in the last year or so then he would have been more match ready - but that's his choice. I would have loved to see Joshua vs Wilder. Would have been an explosive fight, Joshua said he still wants it. It should have happened years ago when they were still champions but perhaps the risk for both was too big then. Regardless, I've really enjoyed watching Wilder. This is just my opinion, and I am entitled to it, fights that Wilder and Joshua have are more exciting than the Fury/Usyk style of dodging and scoring in between for 12 rounds. It's a sad time for a fighter that was once so incredibly exciting to watch.
Wilder features in the best trilogy fight of this HW era in fights that will be re-watched for many years. There are career boxers who's fights don't get re-watched. How many Floyd fights have been rewatched? none and he's technically one of the best to ever do it. Be happy for him People are happy to judge declining fighters and try to slap them down on their fall because they are fickle and pathetic. These guys sacrificed their lives, bodies and souls for our entertainment. Wilder could rekindle something because power is the last thing to go, but is it worth it? Probably not.
Lol!!! I’m not He should go try MMA. Or maybe Power Slap. I’m sure there are plenty of opportunities in either one!
I agree. It’s a great loss we won’t get to see Joshua vs Wilder. He should retire now though, his fire got extinguished. Still one of the hardest punchers ever among Shavers and Foreman.
His fault. He should have keep fighting bum after bums, and just keep talking he would beat anyone on the world. F***** Parker annihilate him. 12-0.
Sign me up for a premium membership. Extremely happy to judge the infantile protected fraud with his excuses and blabbering of wanting a body on his record. Should have chosen to fight Charlie Zelenoff again.
His fault. He should have learnt to box over the past 15 years. Jake 'money' Paul is actually technically better than him after 4 years of training.
Or stepped up much, much earlier in a managed fashion and learned something along the way - taking a few more losses, I expect. He could've been a much better fighter if he'd actually fought some better fighters along the way and learned how to deal with them... But he was happy chugging along on a sea of bums. Shame, but ultimately he'll retire wealthy with limited damage sustained and a better reputation than he's really earned... And in some ways, all power to him for that - as disappointing as it is for fans of the sport.
His unwillingness to polish up his footwork and other fundamentals are really hurting him now that he's an older fighter. The explosive athleticism, reflexes, and speed he used to be able to rely on to bail him out of fights are long gone at 38 years old. At 38 and older ring efficiency is very important, since the first thing to let an older fighter down is their legs and his legs looked old tonight. He's also too inactive. Ring activity is even more important for an older fighter, since Wilder looked really rusty. Guys like Fitzsimmons, Jack Johnson, Joe Louis, Archie Moore, Larry Holmes, Jersey Joe Walcott, Wlad, Lennox Lewis, George Foreman, Povetkin, Luis Ortiz, etc... were more versatile and were more active, which allowed them to still compete with younger fighters despite their age.