By Scott Gilfoid: Unbeaten heavyweight Deontay Wilder (23-0, 23 KO’s) will be showing off his stuff later on tonight against Kertson Manswell (22-5, 17 KO’s) in the 26-year-old Wilder’s first nationally televised fight of his career since turning pro in a fight televised by Fox Sports at the Exposition Hall in Mobile, Alabama,
The 6’7″ Wilder wants to knock Manswell out early to make a big impression on boxing fans. He realizes that it would be good for him to finally get some rounds in for a change, because he’s been knocking everyone out inside of four rounds since he turned pro after the 2008 Olympics, but he recognizes the need to win over new boxing fans by knocking Manswell out as early as possible.
It wouldn’t look good for the huge punching Wilder not to be able to knockout a guy that’s already been stopped in the past by fighters like Alexander Ustinov [3rd round TKO] and Bermane Stiverne [2nd round TKO]. Wilder hits harder than those guys, so the reality if we’re likely going to see Manswell getting knocked out in the 1st or 2nd rounds at best.
Wilder wants to fight for a world title by next year at this time, saying to RingTV “We’re looking at it like this time next year, man. We’re hoping to be there, if not sooner. It’s just a matter of time for me. There are a lot of names out there that we want to fight, but since I’ve been in the guy, I’ve been working so hard…When it come to me, I’m a career breaker.”
What Wilder is talking about is how difficult it’s been for this young talent to get big fights. He’s had trouble getting fights against better opposition because of how dangerous a puncher he is. Few fighters want to mix it up with this one-punch knockout artist, because you can’t a mistake against him because he’ll get you.
Manswell is going to have to be in the survival mode tonight from the second this fight starts if he wants to keep from getting knocked out. It’s too dangerous to try and tangle with Wilder because he hits to hard. It only takes one punch and Manswell’s night could be over.