I'm no longer convinced that a 1974 George Foreman would just plow through Wilder after last night

Yes, period. Ortiz doesn't factor.

 

Ortiz looked absolutely awful on Saturday night. He was in dreadful shape, and fought like an old man. Both fighters landed less than 10 punches per round despite horrible defenses. Admittedly, Wilder's chin held up better than I expected. But, truth be told, Ortiz really didn't land any hard, CLEAN, shots. Yet, Wilder was still in quite a bit of trouble in the 7th round. By the end of the fight, Ortiz (despite an anemic punch output all fight) was too tired to throw punches or defend himself. Neither fighter appeared worthy of a championship title. Both would have likely lost to a John Ruiz last Saturday. Joshua will not have much trouble beating Wilder if he does not learn the fundamentals of boxing better.

And, to the question at hand, George Foreman annihilates Wilder early.

 

Wilder's height, reach, speed and occasional abilty to throw a right perfectly makes him a live threat against anyone who could occasionally suffer technical lapses- like Foreman, for example.

My guess is that it probably looks similar to Foreman-Cooney, though. Wilder wobbles Foreman early, maybe even drops him...but George eventually finds his range, strings shots together and puts him away.

 

Wilder has all of the advantages against 1973-74 Foreman. Wilder is taller, rangier, faster, has much better stamina, better defense, and is more confident. Foreman's whole fight was being the bigger man, walking forward standing straight. Ali, not a big puncher, was hurting Foreman by the end of the third. By the 4th, Foreman was noticeably tired, he was getting hurt with relatively light punches, and things continued to go downhill for him. A 70s Foreman, who fought standing straight, who wasn't elusive, and lacked stamina, is an opponent who is made for the faster, hard hitting, tireless Wilder.

 

Yeaaaa.... because prime Foreman and old Ortiz are the same level... LOL.

Prime Foreman would knock Wilder out so bad, Beyonce would wake up speaking articulate English.

 

Foreman would take Wilder's punches better than Wilder can take his .A prime George has him stumbling round the ring. Big G by 4 th round ko

 

No, Mac Foster never fought Foreman...I think the poster was alluding to Wilder being a modern day equivalent of Mac Foster.

 

I think it makes him a live threat to anyone, actually. I don't rate him very highly - he's had too much trouble against quite mediocre opposition and has not much to write home about except that right, but that is a true game changer on the other hand.

I favor Joshua quite clearly over him. I mean, he only has to do a bit better than Ortiz. Does anyone doubt that Joshua would have finished Wilder off if he had him hurt like Ortiz did? But with a right hand like that, there will always be a big "perhaps".

 

At the same point in time, Joshua gassed badly in the 5th and looked dead to the world in the 6th against Wlad. If AJ suffers those same lapses against someone who can produce suprisingly sound technique, he might find himself in deep trouble.