I've been convinced ever since this fight got made that Chisora will smother Wilder, and feel even more convinced after watching that. He has always been a nightmare match-up for Wilder anyway. But you can just tell that Wilder no longer has the belief, or the passion anymore, and it's been apparent for a good while now. Fury absolutely obliterated Wilder's ego, and it will never, ever come back. Chisora is made of different stuff altogether... he's never and never will be a champion, but he just loves the sport with his whole heart. The guy can lose 3 fights in a row and nothing changes. He knows he can still give anyone out there a tough night, wins are just bonuses to him. The only way Wilder can win this is by one punch, that's always been the case... but just having the belief to throw it now seems to have deserted him. Can't see anything other than a pummeling from Chisora. I get the feeling Wilder will be joining him in retirement after this one.
Yeah, Wilder is a mentally fragile guy who relied on his aura and was intoxicated on his own hype. Once that was shattered, he's been left a shell of a man who's looked awful since and still can't face the reality that Fury was simply and unequivocally better than him. Chisora, on the other hand, will keep fighting the way he fights - win or lose - until his wheels come off. He's a nutter, but having become accustomed to defeat throughout his career he's kind of ego-free and relaxed about the whole fight business. I like this fight for these guys though. Honestly think there should be some kind of minor belt for these old 40+ fighters hanging in there, so they don't clog up the main title queue (or get fed to young lions looking for a washed-up 'name') while still being able to win some accolades and take part in well matched fights.
Wouldn’t call him mentally fragile, the same happens with most murderous type power punchers once defeated. Changes everything.
Well yeah, and clearly that's a mental thing. It's not like their power just leaves them overnight. But I think creating his own idiotic pocket reality filled with ridiculous excuses after Fury 2 (that he's still stuck in) indicates a fragile mind. Wilder's response to defeat is kind of unprecedented, even among power punchers.
That was more for the benefit of his middle school level intellect (at best) fans. Maybe Wilder grew to believe it, who knows?
obviously it is a mental thing, but I wouldn’t be as harsh to say it’s an individual who is mentally fragile. Looking from the other side, it takes a very mentally strong person to start boxing in their 20’s, medal at the olympics within a year or 2 and then win the wbc belt for 5 years and 10x defences. Talking of power punchers and excuses, his response to defeat is strangely similar to foreman’s after Ali. Many have made excuses, or explained potential reasons for losses, (you seen the list of manny Pac-Man excuses after almost every loss) many have claimed dodgy things have happened, it’s just with wilder the witchunt switches on him and he doesn’t play the game. He should stay quiet about it now but he can believe what he wants.
I guess I distinguish it from determination and heart, which Wilder obviously has. Maybe fragile ego (combined with low IQ and immaturity) is more accurate. Foreman still went on to achieve great things, and part of his arc was humility and accepting his defeats. Pacquiao's excuses really don't compare. Wilder's not a very smart dude unfortunately surrounded by people blowing smoke up his ass, which is a bad combo. Not quite sure what you mean by witch-hunts and 'not playing the game', as if his delusions are somehow a positive. I have little time for Simon Jordan, but Wilder literally threw a child-like tantrum when he mentioned Fury - it's embarrassing.
Again, a mentally weak person is not capable of achieving any where near what wilder did in such a short space of time and without being a sponge for learning, at some point. foreman returned after several years, but nonetheless the excuses were the made. The only reason pacqiaos excuses don’t compare is because he’s loved. by witchunt I don’t mean he his thoughts and beliefs are positive, I just mean that some people are crucified for what others are forgiven for, again and again.
Again, I adjusted to say he has a fragile ego that seems to have been permanently shattered. So I'll just conclude by saying I think Chisora takes this, largely due to the gulf in mentality between them.
Wilder hasn’t lost power but the confidence and reflexes to pull the trigger are non existent. I honestly think this fight is a given, basically scripted and that Wilder will happily play his part for the payday.
I think he still believes he has it in him (fighters often do) but he clearly can’t pull the trigger any more. Chisora can still fight