It wouldn’t be wise to dismiss Wilder as being totally ineffective if forced to engaged in an inside fight. While he is definitely at his most dangerous from range, he did Afterall finish off Ortiz with a short powerful uppercut on the inside.
Basic 1-2 boxing behind the jab, put Wilder on the back foot (that helps diminish his power to a degree) and stay focused. When the opportunity arises... take the action up close and personal and use that extra weight and strength, he's gonna need to wear Wilder down. Rather than making opportunities, Wilder waits for mistakes - and thus conserves energy - and his speed combined with athleticism means he only needs half an opening to land his bombs. The outcome of this fight lies in AJ's hands. Can he box well enough to minimise the errors and can he stay fresh enough should the fight go longer than he expects? Wilder doesn't gas because he rarely presses the action, he knows as well as we do, he can't win this fight on points without KDs so being behind on the scorecards won't force him to up the intensity (until very late in the fight, anyway) - he's become very patient in terms of playing the waiting game. So the onus is on AJ. If he performs as one would expect, his better skills and ring IQ should be enough. But park that left hook Anthony. Only a fool would choose that weapon up against Wilder's straight right...
It is what it is but let’s imagine Joshua gets the openings Ortiz did, it’s goodnight Vienna. They both have suspect chins(if you call getting hit/hurt by flush shots from monster sized men) i think it’s harsh to say that they have suspect chins, Joshua took heavy shots from a long reigning champion and got up and finished the job. Wilder underestimated his opponent and took a heavy shot, he was obviously helped by the referee instruction for the doctor to look at his invisible cuts but he took the shot. This debate can run until they actually meet in the ring but the winner of this fight is the one who sticks to his game plan and fights without fear, composure will be key in this fight for me. There is evidence for either sides argument and there is weight in both but I think, if whyte gets to wilder first he will show the blue print for how to beat wilder.
Wilder’s power doesn’t come out of nowhere, he either plants his feet or steps(almost jumps) into his right hand. The effectiveness of his jab also hugely determines how likely he is to land it. As long as Joshua backs him up behind his more educated and precise(albeit slower) Jab and doesn’t hesitate to throw his own right hand, Wilder won’t find an opening and get desperate which will give Joshua an opportunity to knock him out. The left hook might have a place for him, but he needs to be extremely careful with how he uses it, probably exclusisvley as a counter when Wilder misses badly. If he gets inside Wilder will time him up immediately, but if he does try to fight Joshua will maul him expediently. Bottom line is the winner of this fight will be determined by Joshua and his team’s confidence in his skills. If Joshua’s hesitant to come forward and throw power punches Wilder will find the right hand and that’ll be it. If He’s not It’s still an incredibly risky fight, a single mistake and he could be out, but I’d favor him to win. I think it has the potential to go almost any direction- could easily see either one knocking the other out early. I think their respective gameplans will determine everything.
Joshua wins, better all round fighter, joshua will nullify his right hand and nullify the range he needs to throw it. Win the outside game with the jab, be defensively responsible while within deontays range, get inside @ go to work, use his weight & strength, smother, lean and sap wilder legs. Kinda like Hayton v tszyu without all the fouling, Kostya needed that range on his bomb right hand. Joshua has the the smarts & phisicality to overcome anything deontay has, this isn't some slow old dude, deontays power will not be enough.
I think Spilzka was really effective againt Wilder and clearly had a game plan. He stayed mobile, unpredictable, alert, feints, and most importantly he circled to Wilder right side.to negate Wilder right cross and overhand/ right hook. Gotta keep Wilder guessing dont give him a stationary platform that only.moves back and forward because he will catch you with his range, speed, length and doubling forward techniques. Wilder can be beat easily by Joshua if Joshua gets more mobile, lateral movement and unpredictable
Problem Joshua might have is that Wilder is very fast, very fast hands, doubt he's faced someone that fast, or with that combo of reach and speed. Who knows how he'll deal with it. Fury himself is very fast, but Wilder was matching him and so it was more difficult for Fury to evade, he threw less than he usually does (Klitschko fight aside). Can Joshua really evade all these whizzing RH's like Fury was doing, not sure.
That's a good plan, but Joshua won't fight like that. (I will be very surprised if he does). He won't feel comfortable, lacks experience how to close the distance in a relatively safe way.
Getting on the inside with Wilder, is much easier said than done. And as cautious as Joshua has been against light punchers, there's zero chance he'll attempt your strategy
i would train aj to keep turning wilder to his left, and when he gets position on the turn, punch hard at his chest. just keep touching him hard. wilder cant box, he doesnt deal well with getting hit, no matter where it is. so hes going to react to getting punched hard, and i guarantee that reaction will create openings. it also saps his energy, having to keep reacting to hard punches, so it slows his own punches in later rounds. things he should work on, his left hook, keeping his chin tucked, and keeping his left hand glued to his face. there will come a point when wilder lands a good one and will go all out, this is the time to catch him with a left hook as he swings both arms wide, cause he always does. just keep disciplined and i see aj having little trouble with wilder.
Agree with this. Joshua impressed me by reading Wlad's leaping left over and over, and nipping out of the way at the last moment. His reflexes are pretty good for such a big guy. Wilder is far easier to read than Klitschko.
