Will Deontay Wilder be the heavyweight champion someday?

there's nothing clear about anything at all. First of all, the ref is blocking the action so it's hard to see if a punch lands. Second, poor quality video. Third, the ref, who is standing right there, calls it a slip. Fourth, Nichols doesn't complain about the ruling.

 

I've got to go with yes he will be the heavyweight champion simply because there's so many chances with the WBA, WBO, WBC, IBF, not to mention the option of winning the "regular" titles. I think he will at least wear one of the four major belts one day.

 

Well then, I'm an idiot !

OK, I never saw the Sconiers fight, so maybe you have a small point. - But even in the pros, good fighters sometimes get KD'd, especially early in their careers.

This turned into a good thread. Lots of careful thoughts & specifics, but I still see a guy with pretty good defense. What might be a problem is his tendency to showboat after landing a good blow. That's a foolish mindset & could leave him open a lot, but it's also something easy to train out of a guy.

Well, time will tell, won't it?

 

In the Nichols fight? That was clearly a slip, after he backed away from Nichols' shot. -Download it & watch in slo-mo, he was never tagged. He head didn't snap at all, in fact it kept moving forward. The ref called it a slip as well, because it obviously was. It happened because of Wilder's spindly legs, combined with the fact that he had to dip REALLY low to throw a proper right hook, with Nichols being so short.

- And again, he was also showboating a lot, his mind wasn't properly focused.

Manning, I suppose you think that Vitali vs Adamek was the second most embarrassing performance ever in the sport? **** happens.

Wait until Wilder gets an A-level trainer & conditioning coach. Wait until his mind id focused, and he improves his jab. Wait until he builds up his legs and has 250 lbs behind that right instead of 215.

He's a true diamond in the rough. OK, very rough, but it's in there. Despite his flaws, there's no other HW prospect with as much potential.

 

It's not quite as bad as "Lennox," but I get your point!


Just call him "Wild Man." Sounds better, yes? (or maybe "The Detonator.")

 

At this point we can all agree that Vlad doesn't take a punch well. I remember arguing with people about it on this board in 2001. But, Vlad has learned to compensate for his vulnerability by assuming flawless command of the wedge, and by clinching.

Vlad can use the clinching tactic successfully because he is so damned strong. At 245 lbs and muscular and ripped as hell, Vlad may be as physically strong -- or stronger -- than any heavyweight in history.

But will Deontay ever have Vlad's brawn? I doubt it. Deontay looks like a stick figure in the ring. That's why I question if he will ever be able to hold his own physically in the clinches with super-strong, world-level heavyweights.

Maybe Deontay should roid up, and gain 20 lbs of muscle. I don't know.

As for Fury, I agree that he has progressed much, much further in 3 years than Deontay has. However, I think the cat is out of the bag regarding Fury: he cannot take a punch, and his defense is pourous. As much as I like Fury, I cannot imagine him going too far on the world stage.

Price is probably "the man" as far as the Heavyweight Class of 2008 goes.

 

- ANd that shows what you (don't) know about boxing.

1: It's hard to punch downward.

2: The guy wants to learn something from each fight. Why rush the inevitable KO?

3: Nichols is a bizarre opponent with a strange atyle and actually a dangerous punch. Should Deontay have just gne in swinging?

You're an idiot.

He did the smart thing. Played it slow & careful, learned a few things, used his jab decently, and ended the fight in spectacular form. Wow, what a pretender, huh?

- And as for his glass chin, as an amateur he had been fighting for ONE YEAR when that happened. As a pro, about 3 years total. Young fighters make mistakes (duh) plus it takes time to learn how to roll with a punch.
By the standards of some idiots here, that chump Ali should never have made it to the top, because he ALSO had a glass chin.


You guys be sure to let the rest of us know when you stumble upon a clue.

:rofl

 

This is definitely a key question with this guy. He has several times stumbled badly while moving backwards, likely due to those spindly legs.

Luckily, it's not hard to build muscle in your calves, without adversely affecting your upper body. Deontay could easily, with te right trainer, add 20 lbs down there. That would even make his punches more powerful, which is a frightening prospect.