What next for Wilder?

Let him spark out AJ next...

Frustrating thing is, he actually showed in this fight he can box albeit in spurts. He does possess a jolting, versatile jab and has a decent left hand and uppercut. There were times mid fight when he found a nice range and used his jab followed by shortened straight rights and hooks. I know AJ has better fundamentals but always thought Wilder would knock him out. After seeing his resilience and heart last night, I still think this is the case. I don't think Hearn will put AJ near him unless its for a vacant belt...

 

He looked terribly shopworn and Chisora looked even worse. Easy night's work for Joshua, Wilder is completely finished.

 

Credit to Wilder, who performed better than I thought he would (even though he's still pretty diminished, IMO). The danger now is that he ploughs on to try and regain a title, where he's likely to get demolished by any serious contender. Much better, if he is to carry on, to focus on an AJ or even Fury cash-out fight, where he can make a lot of money against the old guard of his era.

 

Considering that Joshua is also at a turning point in his sporting life, and considering that there will always be interest in such a fight among fans (it was enough that Wilder walked past AJ and TikTok was all abuzz, arguing in dozens of videos about who was afraid of whom), such a fight would definitely make sense.
I don't know if it's sporting, because aside from his fighting spirit and fighting spirit, Wilder looked bad in my opinion yesterday.
But there's plenty of money to be made.
The odds are hard to predict, but a Wilder in such good shape should be within reach of even the weakest version of AJ.
He was barely faster than a shambling Chisora with a belly at 42.
And that right hand of his has disappeared. He throws it very rarely and is easily avoided by opponents.
Besides, from what I saw, he's having trouble with it again after that fight, because Wilder complained of pain when he was doing five-five with people in the ring. The only obstacle is the fact that Joshua may already have an agreement with Fury, and this is a better fight at this point.

 

Oh I agree. But he showed heart, desire and if a fighter doesn't lay down for AJ, particularly one with power, it makes an interesting night. How much does AJ have left? I'd favour last nights Wilder over the AJ who rocked up for Dubois for instance. As Frampton famously quipped, he fought like a man trying to look over a high fence....

I also saw that Wilder, perhaps surprisingly, is physically strong. Del did not physically rag doll him as I think he expected to. Sure Wilder is at the end, but then so is AJ...

 

I don't know whether we can read anything in to Joshua being present last night beyond showing support for Chisora and keeping visible?

If Wilder can fight again in a few months then a fight against Joshua would be big, far bigger now he's replaced the memories of his recent showings with a spirited (if limited) display against Chisora. If Joshua comes through that test well then the Fury fight in turn is bigger. Although if the Fury fight's already signed even this shot version of Wilder may be a risk they don't want to take.

 

Joyce took enough brain damage against Zhang. You want Wilder to make him braindead?

 

I saw the highlights. what a disaster. Wasnt he lucky to get the win?

 

I agree but Wilder also suffered a lot of damage...

 

People advocating for joshua against wilder forget how awful joshuas recent history is. Lost clearly against dubois didn't fight in forever. Then chose jake paul and shamefully didn't stop him in one (which was either corruption which i assume or utter incompetence which others assume by saying pauls footwork was too good and he too quick). Then a car crash and still no meaningful fight since his loss to dubois and some unimpressive wins before.

So wilder isn't knocking anyone out anymore, but joshua isn't knocking wilder out either from the looks of it. The fight won't be much better than wilder vs chisora.

Washed up has beens that command the money. Kabayel vs opetaia wouldn't make 10% of the money they would get... Boxing business bs

 

Sure, but this thread is about what Wilder could do next, other than retirement which I'd recommend in the unlikely event he asks me.

If he fights on, i think the Joshua fight is the best one for him to target. As you rightly say he'd have a chance because Joshua is also past his sell by date and should also hang them up.

 

Hang up the gloves Deontay, getting punched in the head too often at 40, will result in you needing to be cared for, by the ones who you at present care and provide for.

Retire on a win, enjoy your earnings, make great memories with your family, our sport is not kind to those who fight on too long, extra millions in the bank from ill advised further fights, will count for nothing if those grey cells are further killed and misfiring.

 

He’s totally shot. People say that power is the last thing that goes but when you don’t have the reflexes, reactions an speed to throw an land the punches then even whatever power you have left looks shot. He was lucky that he was facing someone in Chisora that was just as washed up as he is. I think he should retire now. Beating Chisora was not a bad way to finish but we all know he’s gonna carry on cos as long as he’s still looks good punching a heavy bag in the gym people are gonna tell him yeah no need to retire yet, you still got the power to knock any contender out

 

Winner of Raiakporhe v TKV or winner of Okolie v Yoka. Both fights happen this month so should be makeable for the summer.

 

Last night was an improvement, albeit against an overweight 42 year old, but he's still finding it difficult to let shots go. Some of the flaws are the longstanding ones he's always had but in the past he wasn't shy of throwing, now he seems reluctant.

Even with all the money he's made I have sympathy for fighters who must have fought the majority of his career only dreaming at the paychecks available for these last fights. They'll also be looking at the instances of former big earners going bankrupt and feel a pressure to add more to their nest egg. Regardless, it's no good to him if he's too ill to enjoy it.