Wilder would have had a bumpy road, assuming that he'd fought anybody worth mentioning. The same as today. They're defrosting some cadavers in the microwave, that they found in Siberia, as we speak, for his next defence.
I see the same. In fact, I reckon some of the lesser names on that list could stand a reasonable chance of the upset. Even Ruiz, who is as boring as a dry turd in the summer sun, I reckon could out-box Wilder for a decision win.
If we base it on Wilders level of competition- he barely gets through 2 or 3 fighters on that list. Too many commentators base Wilders hypothetical match up results based on how impressively he has been beating up the non ranked bums that are served to him on a silver platter. That is really not a good way of judging how good he will be, IF, he ever steps up.
I don't think that's a fair comparison though. Half those guys mentioned would never pass VADA testing today and it would be like putting a completely unmonitored Povetkin against him. Wilder's WBC run is a sham, but comparing it to the 90's is flawed in my opinion.
There are a LOT of hypotheticals in this thread...which really boils down to the main issue - Believe it or not, even as the WBC champ with several defences, at this point we really do not know much about what Wilder's level is. That kind of thing can ONLY be measured by fighting people that are a legitimate challenge to you and not someone you are expected to beat or outmatch in key departments. He may have the goods - but we are no closer to knowing yet. The Povetkin fight, had it happened legitimately, would've let us know either way what Deontay's level is. In the absence of that, it's still all guess work for us all. One thing I will say though, is that I have not seen anything thus far that would suggest Bruno would get 'a beating'. Don't forget - this is the guy that had outboxed Lewis early and was ahead when he got stopped. His solid fundamentals, ramrod jab, and crushing right hand power should not be overlooked in a fight against someone who has not yet had to dig deep. Also, McCall would be troublesome in the extreme for Wilder - and this is before we get around to the top tier HW's of that era.
Judging by how Szpilka closed the distance with head movement, I would take Tua to 'Moorer' Wilder. I'm not hating on Wilder, just judging the fighters on what I have seen. Tua wiped out a legit guy (albeit past his best) guy in Moorer, and Wilder struggled mightily with Szpilka's head movement. Tua early.
There was too many good HW's back then. The cowardly lion would of never turned pro. In the 90's having 37 pro fights or whatever, having a so called World Title belt and still fighting total bums like Wawrszlyk aint gonna cut it.
Interesting to see lots of people pick Morrison. He also came up soft and was a bit of a glass cannon but I can see why people think he may have been able to take out Wilder with that much vaunted left hook of his.
Morrison would be fifty fifty. Depends if Tommy shows up or not, and can get past Wilder's jab. If he shows up I think he manages to clip Jonty with his left and down he goes. Hide would be dangerous as well, though I'd pick Jonty to KO him. Still Herbie could be dynamite in the early rounds. Very dangerous, aggressive crazy guy with an unorthodox style and good handspeed. Ruiz I think would be a nightmare for Jonty; could see him totally clowning Jonty. Mercer could be dangerous as well. Wilder would need to replicate his Stiverne performance and then some to win though it's not an impossible feat. Botha I can imagine being weirdly competitive with Wilder. His heart alone would keep him in the fight. Can't disagree there. Tua's probably the most winnable fight due to the height disparity. McCall would be a nightmare for Jonty. Iron chinned and utterly fearless. Rahman was a bit inconsistent and potentially beatable if Jonty sticks to a gameplan. Golota probably outboxes him and stops him unless he flips out. Other fighters I can think of that would give Jonty problems: Sanders Maskaev Mason Foreman Moorer Briggs Bruno Vitali Byrd
Nice posts irt how Wilder could almost become the GOAT if he'd fought in the 90s, by simply swerving the Klitschkos, Lewis and aging Tyson but getting fights vs the likes of chinny Rahman, aging Evander, Seldon etc. He could string together a decent resume but might accidentally be put in with one of the robotic Klitsckos or an Alex Stewart. Don King tried to get the K2 to sign, and when they refused, he froze them out of the WBA and WBC. He'd find a way to keep Wilder from fighting one of em by paying off the sanctioning bodies like he did for Ruiz and Valuev.
I think he beats Liam Gallagher and Ricky Martin. He get KO'd by Lauryn Hill and Sarah Michelle Gellar. David Hasselhoff still had enough left in the 1990s to handle him, and was the same size. I'd make him 50-50 against Celine Dion and Boris Yeltsin.
