Wilders pre title competition is underrated

That's awful competition.

 

It was bad tbh.

But people are starting to troll and act like Wilder wasn't a ferocious puncher. In his prime, he's one of the most dangerous heavyweights to ever live. One of the hardest punchers ever.

The danger that Fury faced against Wilder has to be commended. Those 2/3 wins are fantastic wins.

And Wilder has never been the same since those fights.

 

You forgot to mention the peak tough contenders like Dustin Nichols and Harold Sconiers. Some of the best names on Wilder's resume.

 

Took a dive...

 

I think many compare it to the British level which is very different

For example

Wilder fought Scott in his 31st fight when Scott was coming off a stoppage loss.
Chisora fought undefeated Scott in his 21st fight when he (Chisora) was 2-4 in his previous 6 fights

Wilder fought Liakhovich in his 29th fight when Liakhovich was 2 - 4 in his previous 6 fights and coming off 2 stoppage losses

Wilder fought Harrison in his 28th fight
Price fought Harrison in his 14th fight

Price stopped Harrison in the 1st round, Wilder fought the same Harrison 6 months later

I think it was great matchmaking as it gives the fighter a great record where they get big experience before stepping up.
Often in the UK, HWs are stepped up very quickly and I don't think always get the benefit of going at a slower learning pace.

The example with Wilder and Price was a bit of an example of that

I wonder how Prices career would have gone with the same opposition and building up gradually
It gives a bit of an example

 

Wilder's competition was not great.

 

I think the main problem is that people pretend the competition was so bad compared to AJ, Joyce, Parker, Ruiz and other hyped fighters.
All these characters were protected by fighting journeymen and old/shot names.

For instance we can imagine the spin if AJ or Joyce beat old Liakovich who beat the guy that KO'd Wlad. Or Scott who was a contender at the time.

And interestingly an even older Liakovich was an acceptable opponent for Ruiz.

 

Honestly it was pretty poor. The only good fighter Wilder really beat was Ortiz but that was it really.

The other guys Wilder fought were just gatekeepers really, they weren't journeymen but they were like top 15-25 mid gatekeepers at best. Stiverne might have been a fringe contender at best if I'm being generous.

 

His competition level was appropriate considering his limited amateur experience. He needed rounds, activity, and exposure to different styles.

Also, considering that when he got the title shot he was ready and was able to successfully defend it several times shows that his team made the right decisions.

Guys like Carnera and Foreman, who also were lacking in amateur experience were matched in a similar fashion and were also successful in becoming champions.

 

I thought he was an Olympic bronze medallist?

 

That’s pathetic pre title competition. His entire run is horrible. Really Ortiz is the only quality win and he was old and was finally off steroids. The first Stiverne win is good. That’s it. For 43 wins and 10 title defenses Wilder’s resume is woeful.

 

Joshua was facing Undefeated Whyte in his 15th fight, Undefeated Martin in his 16th.
Skelton in his 7th fight.

Joyce was facing Undefeated Dubois in his 12th fight, Parker in his 15th fight, Zhang in his 16th

 

Lol holding up A-Farce and Scuba Scott as underrated opposition doesn't really work.

And Liakovich was shot to smithereens when Wilder fought him.

 

Malik dived.
Liakhovic hadn't won a decent fight in ages.
Audley... Fraudley was 40ish and shot, never fought again and was never that good in the first place.

It's no better than his title run competition - they were cherry picks judged well (unlike the cherry pick which went wrong and derailed his protected run).