Deontay Wilder vs Chris Byrd

Sure...

But stylistically Ortiz wasn't a bad style for Wilder IMHO - so better guys who were anything other than a good style would be at least as difficult.

I disagree - old Tyson and old Holyfield were still better than Ortiz and IMHO would've had a decent chance of beating Wilder.

The Holyfield that went 1-1-1 with John Ruiz at 37-39 years old, for example, might've been clearly declined from his best, but he was still operating with success against a more proven opponent than Ortiz ever beat.

And although it's pre 00's (1999) the Holyfield who gets a draw with arguably the H2H goat ib Lennox Lewis at 36.5 years old achieved FAR, FAR more in a non-winning performance than Ortiz achieved in losing a tight one to Wilder whose resume leans heavily on having beaten him.

I think in all likelihood Haye is the one who'd be getting the knockout - even though neither man is your stereotypical big and slow heavyweight, Haye was particularly quick, packed significant power and was significantly more skilful than Wilder.

It's not impossible Wilder gets there first, but I'd back Haye - it's not a 50/50 in my book.

 

The Holyfield that got a draw with Lewis isnt beating Wilder or Ortiz. Lets cut it out

 

You cannot seriously expect me to agree that a guy whose best wins are Scuba Scott and Bryant Jennings, neither of whom qualify as contenders or really anywhere near it, is a gimme to beat a guy who is not only a legit ATG himself, but gets a draw out of a top top tier ATG...

You just cannot be serious.

You have to be either trolling me right now or just so desperate to justify Ortiz that you'll say things that you would be too smart to think in any other context... I simply cannot believe that you seriously believe that's a sensible and unbiased opinion...


Wilder, prime, maybe gets a huge career defining win against that old Holyfield, but it's far from a sure thing - Evander would've rightly been favoured.
Ortiz doesn't get close.

 

Holyfield's timing even in his late 30s would be a big problem for Wilder. Holy managed to catch Lewis a few times, you can imagine if he catches Wilder with crisp left hook more than once. Even past prime Holyfield's skill level was something Wlider never dealt with.

 

Was thinking the same thing.

And it took ELITE FIGHTERS to beat Byrd at his peak. Wladimir, Vitali (Vitali outboxed him) and Ibeabuchi. Wilder isn’t one of those

 

Holyfield was collapsing vs Lennox Lewis

Lennox could've probably stopped him if he wasn't so cautious

You're a delusional man if you think that Holyfield is beating Wilder or Ortiz pre being shot

Now the Holyfield in the Lennox Lewis rematch probably beats both

 

Tua is 5'10 with mud feet

Not to mention how Wilder has 10x more heart

What kind of comparison is that?

 

What on earth do tua and wilder have in common? They are polar opposites

 

Most versions of Holyfield beat Wilder tbh
The version that lost dubiously to Valuev would probably lose tho

 

They both have a lot of power

That's where the comparison ends

 

Both power punchers but completely different in every way. Both fighters too.

 

Ya stylistically they're nothing alike

 

punch stat is just as rigged as judging.

 

People on this forum will pick Ali from the Berbick fight to beat prime Wilder and say "Its still Ali. Who did Wilder even beat ?"

 

And yet that version of Holyfield still beats 38 year old Ortiz with plenty to spare...

Holyfield was a well proven legit contender, and still performing solidly at the top level in his late 30's, even if his performances were declining by his own high standards.

Ortiz is, like his best win, defined by a loss - in Ortiz case it's a competitive and controversial one to Wilder (who's true level was never really proven) that could easily have gone the other way on another night, and in his best win, Jennings, case a wide UD loss to Wlad that was never going the other way...

We're talking about fighters with completely different kinds of career - Holyfield would, and did, fight all kinds of top fighters. Ortiz on the other hand didn't really fight anyone of note until his mid-late thirties and (just like Wilder) wanted no part of fighting Joshua when it was on the table.

Ortiz beats Holyfield at any point where they're the same age? Absolutely no way, not at any point.