Is Deontay Wilder actually good?

He is good. How good? Hard to say yet.

He had a long and padded record, but considering he is relatively inexperienced, despite his Olympic success, it is understandable that he had a long professional apprenticeship.

He took up boxing late and had amateur success, but it was obvious to see that he lacked a lot of skill and technique and basically got by on power and athletic ability.

The Stiverne fight told us more about him than all his previous pro bouts. He showed he could box to a game plan, has stamina, isn't glass jawed and he showed over 12 rounds what he had previously only shown over a few rounds; good speed, power and jab.

How good he will be is unknown yet, but, it will be fun watching him.

People are giving him a hard time about his latest opponent. I think it's a little harsh on him. Most fighters take an easy first defence to earn a little money in a give me fight. I also think that he is waiting to see what happens with Fury v Wlad. I expect the winner of that fight to fight Wilder pretty soon.

As for Povetkin? I think he is to small and slow of foot. I'll probably get shot down for this, but with some of the larger heavyweights today who are not only big but are athletic, I think the days of the small heavyweight are over. At least the small plodding heavyweight that we see so much of today. Other than if David Haye comes back and he hasn't deteriorated to much, I can't see any of the smaller heavyweights beating Wlad, Wilder or Fury.

 

Anyone saying he's **** is just stupid.

He's obviously good... we just don't know if he's able to take the next step.

He impressed me against Stiverne.. he KTFO out of Liakhovich and beat Scott.. he's not terrible at all.. just who knows how good he is for real.

 

18 inch thighs is not athletic!

Besides lanky Wilder I agree with you.

 

Aesthetically, maybe not. However, athleticism is athleticism.

There are many examples in many sports of people who are incredibly athletic without really looking it, and vice versa.

 

That's bull****. 18 thighs on a 6'7 dude will never be athletic. He is Lanky.

Also Wladimir has sort of skinny legs in just 22 inch thighs but just compare him with Wilder:

[url]http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=11twyeh&[/url]

He is an "Ectomorph" Tall and lanky: [url]http://www.thefitindian.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/bodytypes.jpg[/url]

Most boxers know, great chin comes from great balance with in turn comes from great legs...

Just look at Ali's legs, 25 inch early in his career, and later on 27(!)
[url]http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/08/29/article-1209201-0637A29F000005DC-606_634x513.jpg[/url]
Its no coincidence he could take a punch.

But would those legs hold up when some one lands clean?:
[url]https://boxingpulse.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/14-mar-2014-pesaje-danny-garcia-vs-mauricio-herrera-deontay-wilder1.jpg[/url]

Don't think so... Its just common sense. Logic.

 

He may be lanky and have 18" thighs, but he is still athletic, especially compared to modern day heavyweights. Forget the tape measure. Just compare his foot speed and all around athleticism to other heavyweights today. The answer is there.

I agree with you that strong legs can help punch resistance, but we are talking about athleticism. Ability to take a shot has nothing to do with athleticism.

 

Not in the short run, no. But Athletic people so could "mesomorphs" can much easier put on weight. Ectomorphs (Wilder) other hand, have to walk thru hell to gain mass. And strong legs = Good chin.

He is fast on his feet only because of his low mass so his skinny legs can hold up. Not for his muscles.

His days are counted. You just have to look at his legs.

Wilt Chamberlain had really strong legs: [url]https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/15/85/88/158588053c4658a9e9483421784abc1d.jpg[/url]

Athletic dude.

 

Ability to avoid a shot absolutely is tied to athleticism. Movement, balance and other things are all part of it.....you don't know what you're talking about.

 

Wow.... Who give a flying rats ass about how big his thighs are?

Tommy Hearns didn't seem to be walking on tree trunks. He was still incredibly athletic.

I can tell you one thing Wilder DOES NOT have weak legs. He wouldn't be punching that hard with weak legs now would he?

 

Haha, Tommy Hearns had 20' inch thighs - as a middleweight!
Wilder... 18(!)

What you says only strengthens my conviction. I just state the obvious. Wilder is exposed. But a fool will never see it.

 

Won't know till he steps up his competition. He's definitely not a guy who would be 31 wins, 31 KOs had he been consistently fighting Top 10.

 

In my opinion no he is not

 

Let me watch him fighting Klitschko before telling you he's good or not.

 

He's alright. Can box better than I gave him credit for but he was keeping someone much smaller than him at range which isn't particularly something to start writing home about. He's got pretty quick hands. His power? Not sold on it myself. Not to say he's featherfisted but I don't think he hits as hard as Wlad

 

You are right. Ability to avoid a shot can be helped by athleticism, however, I was talking about ability to take a shot.

Try reading the post properly before you start with the criticism, Chief.