Deontary Wilder's Career

 

Seasoned boxing observers may have different perspectives on Deontay Wilder.

On the one hand, his résumé isn't extensive, and his skill set has consistently come under fire over the years. On the other hand, he is one of the all-time hardest punchers and has recently had one of the longest heavyweight title reigns.

Top heavyweights like the "Bronze Bomber" usually make it into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, but ardent supporters will continue to dispute his skill for all time.

Here is one viewpoint on Wilder as he gets ready to fight fellow contender Robert Helenius on pay-per-view this coming Saturday at Brooklyn's Barclay's Center.

BAD

With a remarkable run that featured 10 consecutive title defenses, Wilder defeated Bermane Stiverne to win the WBC heavyweight title in 2015 and retained it until Tyson Fury stopped him in their second bout in 2020.

Who did he defeat, though?   It includes Eric Molina, Johann Duhaupus, Artur Szpilka, Chris Arreola, Gerald Washington, Stiverne once more, Luis Ortiz, Fury (draw), Dominic Breazeale, and Ortiz once more.

You're not the only one if you weren't impressed by that group. The experienced and well-trained, powerful Ortiz was the subject of some of Wilder's most remarkable triumphs, despite the fact that the Cuban lost most of his important battles and never claimed a championship.

Other than Ortiz? A wide wasteland, which plainly calls into question Wilder's standing in the annals of heavyweight boxing.

His alleged boxing limitations are frequently brought up by detractors, who maintain that he only ever succeeds in battles thanks to his unquestionable punching strength. Some have even claimed that he is among the heavyweight champions with the worst technical skills.

He's not a really good boxer, which is significant to many purists. How can a fighter with such restrictions join the pantheon of great heavyweights, they would ask.

Poor resume, two or more losses to Fury, and questionable boxing abilities. These are valid complaints against Wilder.

GOOD

Nobody can legitimately claim that Wilder has a solid resume.  Neither does he.  The same, though, may be said of other heavyweights who are regarded with greater esteem than he is.

Wladimir Klitschko is a good example. Due to his longevity and consistency, the Ukrainian star deserved to be in the Hall of Fame.

But another question concerning him is, "Who did he beat?" The three heavyweights he defeated—Alexander Povetkin, David Haye, and Samuel Peter—who were competent but mainly forgettable—were likely his biggest victory.

To be fair, Klitschko defeated more of these heavyweights over the course of more than a decade at the top of the sport, earning him respect from all corners. Before his late-career setbacks, he was defeated by journeymen Ross Puritty, Corrie Sanders, and Lamon Brewster. Like Wilder, he too never triumphed over a heavyweight who possessed a remarkable talent.

With the exception of one, Wilder has destroyed every opponent put in front of him, the majority of them were top contenders. All that can be asked of him is that.

Deontay's fights with Fury clearly don't help his resume. Bad losses are bad losses. However, he deserves some credit for recovering from a grisly defeat in Fight 2 in February 2020 to give Fury absolute hell in a classic Fight 3 in October 2021, by defeating the world's best heavyweight twice. before he was stopped himself.

If nothing else, Wilder has gained recognition for his warrior spirit, which makes sense to many fans.

His skills? The criticism is exaggerated.

Wilder clearly doesn't have Oleksandr Usyk's net worth - who does? -but he knows what he's doing. A powerful boxer generally does not land his shots accidentally; he patiently and methodically prepares them for unloading.

That's what Wilder has done throughout his career. And that takes skill. He certainly designed a great delivery system for perhaps the most powerful and underrated right hand in history.

CONCLUSION

Wilder's full story hasn't been written.

If things go well for him on Saturday, the 36-year-old (37 on Oct. 22) could share the ring with the likes of Usyk or Anthony Joshua. If he gets those fights and wins one or both of them, he will be perceived differently. The same is obviously true if he loses. As things stand, he's not as bad as his critics suggest, and he's not as good as his staunchest supporters think. This is the case with most fighters.

However, I add this: it is not easy to keep a world title for five years and ten defenses. The same goes for 41 knockouts in 45 fights, making Wilder one of the greatest knockout performers of all time.

And finally, he is a relatively small heavyweight. He is six feet tall, but his natural weight is over 220 pounds. He probably he could reach the 200 cruiserweight limit if he really wanted to. The fact that he has achieved everything he has achieved with his slim frame is impressive.

- Vladimir Krull