Deontay Wilder to return in April - Opponent will be announced this Saturday

Generally my thoughts too. He's finished imo, both physically and more important, mentally.
He and his team all know it. They're just getting a few last paydays as there's still a few bob to be earned.

 

Physically... Possibly - at his age, decline is certainly to be expected.

Mentally... It's not just his own mentality, though his confidence will certainly have taken a huge knock - it's also the aura that he had at the peak of his hype is diminished, and that helps his opponents.

Most importantly... His hype is basically finished - there's still the exaggerations over his power and what he "was" (or rather, wasn't), but without that hype his earning power is naturally decreased... It'll be much harder to sell him knocking out his classic (read: C tier or below) opponents for good money, and even Wilder isn't stupid enough to try and trade on his health by taking fights where he's likely to get brutally KO'd (which probably is his most saleable option, however foolish it'd be).

There's still money to be made, but it's nowhere near what it was and he was never the biggest draw before Fury anyway.

 

Wilder isn’t aging well because his power relies on speed and athleticism which has declined greatly. He’s not like Foreman, Beterbiev, GGG, etc where they’re slower but naturally heavy handed.

He should retire tbh.

 

Andy Ruiz! I hadn't thought of that one for Wilder, that would be a match that could propel the winner into the Dubois,Parker, Usyk trio for a title chance. Nice call,,,

 

Talking sense

 

Some good points. Every power puncher has an aura, once it’s gone, it’s gone.

but then you had to turn it into hating nonsense lol

 

Deontay Wilder is a sad story imo where people have focused on all the wrong things.

Wilder has always been a very open and direct man. There is nothing dishonorable about putting on gloves to financially support a daughter with a life long medical condition.

That man is a hero.

His over achievement is somehow turned against him for doing us the disrespect of winning a world title.

His daughter's future secured while his infallible hand failed him, he hasn't yet found something new to fight for and I would bet he struggles to believe at times when he didn't used to.

But because giving Wilder any respect at all has transitive factors to Wlad, Fury, and Joshua, most fans can agree on some level of disrespectful stance toward his career. Like any of those jabronis actually have a good resume.

I'll always choose to support the family man who goes for the KO because he hasn't any other choice.

Let's go pops, one more night with the Bronze Bomber for the kids.

 

His handlers were crazy to put him in with Zhang.

 

Agreed. He's taking punishment in every fight now.

He should retire while his brain still sort of functions.

Fighters usually take more punishment at the end of their careers. Reflexes slow and the legs go.

Punches that used to be avoided, start landing. The ability to "pull the trigger" when there's an opening diminishes.

When that starts happening, it time to pack it in.

 

Wilder has had a career of come from behind win cause of his speed. That look like it is gone as he age. Power is still there but he can no longer land the punch.Couldn’t time Parker. Zhang is as stationary as they come and he had a damn hard time hitting Zhang.

He should have made more than enough to retire.

 

I'd love to see Itauma v Wilder. A chin check for the youngster, and I'd actually back him to batter Deontay.

 

I respect any man who enters a ring professionally.

I think some of the disrespect toward Wilder is that he had SO MANY gifts to work with, yet focused his entire career and style on his power. With his height, reach, and athleticism, he could have learned solid fundamentals that, when combined with his power, might have made him the best of his era. Imagine a Wilder who could box like Fury. He'd have iced everyone.

Anyway, best wishes to the Bronze Bomber. What I'd like to see for him as a cash out would be to shut one of these youtubers up. Jake Paul or Logan Paul want to pretend they're serious boxers? Get in there with Wilder. I'm confident he's got enough left to win in a round or two via decapitation.

 

What an excellent post that goes against the grain.

wilder was not born into boxing, took it up late and to try turn families life round, and he did that. I do not understand why people need to disrespect a guy who did what boxing is there for, a poor man’s sport that can turn your life round.
From lorry driver to champion of the world.

I’ve met him once, he spent several hours with us being a gentleman and giving us all the time in the world, when he didn’t have to. Talking to kids and everything, a real family man. This is whilst he was champ too. He was genuinely a nice guy. I’ve heard Guys who go to spar with him are treated like family too.

I don’t understand the hate and selective criticism.

 

I agree. Wilder had physical gifts. Relied on them too much and really never learned the fine points of the sweet science.

The problem comes when the physical gifts diminish and there's no strong foundation to carry you through.

 

I'm pretty sure I thought I was in the legacy thread.

I just got lucky it sort of works here too!