How would Deontay Wilder do if he turned pro in 1970

Good valid points and something to think about .

 

Doubt it, Norton is going to have to get inside on Wilder from the opening bell due to the reach advantage. Ken's tendency to start slow and vulnerability to punchers are two very big red flags for a fight with Wilder. It seems far more likely that WIlder lands something big early and closes the show before Norton can really get going.

 

I don't know why anyone would think Wilder would be moved quicker back then. Fighters weren't rushed into title opportunities in the early to mid 70s. Foreman didn't fight Frazier for the title until George's 38th pro fight. Joe Bugner didn't fight Ali for the title until Joe's 50th pro fight. Shavers didn't fight Ali until Earnie's 61st pro fight.

At his current pace, Wilder would've fought for a title around 1977. And there was no one around then to stop him.

Is shopworn Jerry Quarry who got nearly killed by Frazier and Norton in '75 and outboxed by Lorenzo Zanon in '77 going to beat Wilder?

If Jerry Quarry got in a slugfest with Deontay Wilder it would be over in a round with Quarry laid out or split wide open. Wilder has seven inches in height and more than a foot in reach over Quarry. And Wilder's straight shots ARE FAST. Faster than anything Quarry was seeing around that time that he STILL couldn't get out of the way from.

Wilder would've finished what novice Joe Alexander started against Quarry. Quarry stopping Wilder is pure fantasy.

 

Just like he had a massive shot of KOing Gerry Cooney. Norton also wilted from punchers who were smaller than him. Wilder would've scared the hell out of him.

 

Except for the fact that Jerry Quarry was pretty much done after 1973. So unless he fought Wilder when Wilder was fighting in town halls in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, during his first couple years as a pro, Quarry would've been past it by the time Wilder emerged.

 

However far his power gets him. It is about his power and punching guys out. When he cannot hurt the other guy he would get knocked out. Wilder is a bit overrated. His power is not overrated, but his skills are. He has good speed, but he never developed skills needed to survive if he had not power, and all fighters need that. I think Ali outboxes him and stops him. Foreman stops him. Frazier probably stops him. Norton I think loses to him. He stops a guy like Leon..

 

Only in the Classic section ....serious props for the Lion of Flanders!

 

Frazier retired in 1976 after losing his only fight that year. Foreman retired in 1977 after losing his only fight that year.

Ali went 15 rounds with Alfredo Evangelista and Earnie Shavers in 1977.

When were these guys going to beat Deontay Wilder exactly?

The question is what if Wilder turned pro in 1970. Not if Wilder fought all the 70s guys at their very best.

If Wilder turned pro in 1970 and fought at the same pace, he'd have fought for the title in 1976 or 1977. The champion wasn't very good either of those years. The top contenders (Foreman and Frazier were not doing so hot.) Quarry was retired in 1975. Lyle lost twice in '75, lost twice in 1976, and was going 10 rounds with novices like Stan Ward in 1977.

Who were the monsters that were going to take out Wilder? Ken Norton - who avoided bombers at all costs? Duane Bobick?

The 70s era of heavyweights was all but over by 1976.

Wilder would've been a champ if he turned pro in 1970 and if he turned pro in 1960 and if he turned pro in 1950. By 1977, 1967 and 1957, there wasn't a whole lot around who could've beaten him.

Think Wilder would've lost to Patterson or Johansson?

Think he wouldn't have won the WBA Heavyweight tournament against Jimmy Ellis and that group?

He's a very good champion and will be remembered as one. His ninth defense is coming up.

 

Shavers Vs Wilder is in my top 10 fantasy match ups. In my mind they are very similiarly matched and would give us a very short but highly entertaining and memorable fight.

I tend to think Wilder's career were he around in the 70s would probably resemble that of Shavers in a lot of ways with the exception that he might have finished his career with a couple more upsets on his record due to the fact he possesses a more efficient gas tank.

 

He would do excellent , he wouldn't fight a relevant fighter until 1979 and that gets him to the year 1980 .

 

I assumed the question was Ali, Frazier and Foreman and Norton. Evangelista? I pick Wilder. Earnie Shavers vs. Wilder? I don't know. Whoever lands first wins that one and I would go with Earnie Shavers probably just much better opposition, but both guys had weak opposition going up the ranks-. Ron Lyle again a big puncher. I pick Ron Lyle against Wilder-Ron could down but he didn't stay down. Wilder beats Patterson and Johansson. Just on size, Liston would have destroyed both guys.. Kenny Norton? He was the highlight film to Shavers and Cooney. I would love to see Cooney vs. Wilder. I pick I just don't know. We don't know enough about Wilder yet and Cooney made a career of losing. Larry Holmes was too skilled for Wilder.

 

Cooney vs. Wilder would be interesting, though I would favor Gerry to stop him. Cooney being the bigger man, could back him up, out-jab him, and catch him. Cooney was far more nuanced than Wilder.