By Tony Crooks: To me, speaking as a journalist that has followed boxing for over thirty years, there are certain things wrong with Wilder’s preparation for word domination. Let us look at some facts: Wilder has no amateur pedigree whatsoever. This is where you learn the basics of boxing, while I appreciate that it has nowhere near the skill factor of a professional boxer, it is still a learning curve.
Wilder fights like an armature boxer, his defensive skills are almost nonexistent and in his recent fights he seems to have developed the Wladimir Klitscho style of boxing, head back and using his reach. Most fighters that work this way usually have a problem with getting hit and this concern’s me about Wilder.
He needs to move up the rankings gradually and fight better opposition. If you put him in with David Haye right now he would get destroyed purely on the fact that he leaves himself open to easy counter punches. Wilder needs to take his time and gradually become a better boxer.
I don’t think that 2013 will be his year. Let us get one thing straight, no one is ducking Wilder it is Golden Boy that is doing the ducking. You can knock out lesser boxers of the same ability, but can you knock out boxers of the skill of David Haye? The difference is simple. You cannot hit what is not in front of you, class boxers will circle away from Wilder’s right hand and when he does throw it, he will be open to counter punches. Amateur pedigree is everything.
Having said that, not all make it, but when you look at the likes of Roy Jones, Sugar Ray Leonard, Lennox Lewis, Joe Calzaghe and Cassius Clay they all had great amateur pedigree. I am not suggesting for one moment that Wilder won’t be champion one day, having said that, he is being over hyped by some writers as the next big American hope.
Only time will tell, the art of boxing is to hit without being hit, it is nothing more than a game of chess, you lead your opponent into a false sense of security and when they make a mistake, you counter and win the game. In most cases a good boxer will beat a puncher every time. If Deontay Wilder wants to fight at the highest level, he needs to learn a lot more about the art of boxing; otherwise he may experience a premature downfall.
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