Someone already hit on a perfectly reasonable answer for Wilder's slow progress, for those that don't buy lack of amateur career as a legitimate reason: steady, consistent paychecks to support his sick kid. Not what a boxing fan wants to hear, no, but it is a rational thing for Wilder to consider. He steps up, gets knocked out, and loses his come-back fight and there's no guarantee he'll get another shot, much less a steady income in boxing.