Prime Wilder vs Zhang and Joe Joyce

He could possibly beat Joyce as Joyce was limited and had no defence. Joyce could obviously be dropped and he would be very easy to hit.

Zhang ends same way probably.

 

I was just discussing these hypotheticals yesterday.

I think he’d definitely lose to Zhang. It’s not good to be outboxed by a guy that much bigger with that much power. Wilder threw a lot of jabs to set up his big right, so he’d be taking a lot of right hooks, and I don’t think he could take it. Zhang has a very good chin too, wilder would need to land more than usual to knock him out, an almost impossibly hard feat for him. Also, Zhang would 100% be coming forward, he wouldn’t let Wilder set his feet often enough to land a big blow, in my opinion.

Wilder would have chances vs Joyce. Joyce has a very good chin, but he’s there to be hit. He also throws a lot of punches that individually aren’t the hardest, giving Wilder a lot of opportunities. The biggest problems for Wilder are 1. Joyce is a very skilled pressure fighter, he’ll make it hard for Wilder to set his feet. 2. Joyce is a more skilled boxer in terms of landing blows consistently 3. Joyce has a good chin.

Stylistically overall, I’d give the edge to Wilder. On the other hand, Joyce beat the better competition, and I often consider that a lot when predicting a fight. It’s a hard choice for me, and I could see myself flipping back and forth if the fight was made. Gun to my head, right now I think I’d pick a prime Joyce just because he’s more proven. Either Joyce outboxes and stops him or Joyce outboxes him until he’s stopped, in my opinion.

Wilder goes 0-2 or 1-1

 

Loses to Zhang, KOs Joyce. Joyce is too hittable and too slow

 

I agree with this. Joyce's legendary chin didn't stand up to Zhang's power, so it likely wouldn't to Wilder's either - then again Duhaupas took it. And having said that, Joyce was quite capable of outboxing an orthodox heavy hitter like Dubois. Zhang as a skilled southpaw was a different kettle of fish entirely.
0-2 or 1-1 for me.

 

If he stays alert for 5 rounds against Zhang he gasses him and ices him cold. Is Wilder smart enough to avoid Zhang for 5 rounds? I’m not so sure. This one is straight up about coaching and execution of a plan. I’ll go with Wilder but with some reservations about his ring IQ.

Joyce isn’t very good. He’s going to stand and trade with Wilder. It’s a pick ‘em fight for mine but my gut feel is that Wilder catches Joyce before Joyce catches Wilder.

 

Zhang by savage KO
Joyce who knows? Could go either way.

 

Zhang I think was probably just wrong for him - give him more speed and run around until Zhang gasses and he could do it... But he wouldn't do that.


Joyce is the one half decent fighter I actually think Wilder had a realistic chance with - Joe's habit of just standing there and letting big punchers have a free swing means he'd be quite likely to receive the bomb IF Wilder was still standing to be able to deliver it... And that's the big "if" - Wilder wouldn't have liked the pressure and Joyce could rack up the accumulation, Wilder's durability was always overrated (mostly because it was untested) and Joyce hit harder than Fury.
Could go either way - I wouldn't want to bet on it.


Wilder would be 0-2 or 1-1.

 

I think we basically agree, other than my gut probably slightly favours Joyce - it's flipped a few times, though... Ultimately beating the better opponents (Parker>>Ortiz) and my personal opinion on Wilder's durability (or lack thereof) just makes me think it's more likely he gets broken down and stopped - he'd take it, and he'd be pissed at getting waved off, but I just think that's how it would've gone slightly more often than not.

 

Doubt he ever beats Zhang.

As for Joyce, hard to say. He'd get plenty of opportunities to tee off but if Joes at one time exceptional chin could withstand it he'd probably be ****ed.

 

Tough to say.

Joyce has a very good chin but a certain level of puncher can crack that chin as Zhang showed.

Wilder doesn't like being forced onto the backfoot and Joyce has a pretty big size advantage in regards to weight.

It all depends if Wilder can crack Joyce's chin before Joyce gets to him late on.

As for Zhang if Wilder can survive the first 6 rounds then Wilder could possibly stop a tiring Zhang late on.

The issue is Wilder is not a pressure fighter who throws alot of punches. So I'm not sure Wilder's sniper like style is a good style to have vs Zhang.

 

Joyce woz damaged goods by that point

 

Zhang made him into damaged goods Joyce was coming off the best performance of his career prior to the Zhang fight against Parker.

 

Prime Joyce took big shots from Dubois and barely affected him. He just walked down Dubois and knocked him out. The Zhang fight really damaged him, especially the 2nd fight.

I think it's a 50-50 fight between a prime Wilder and prime Joyce.

I think Zhang was always a bad match up for Wilder. Zhang is a massive southpaw who is equally powerful. Zhang has good timing, so he always has the technical advantage over Wilder and he's much likely to land big before Wilder does.

 

Lets not forget people on here said Joyce had an Iron Chin until he fought Zhang and he didn't. Wilder has always been Glass Jawed.