By John Dixon: Deontay Wilder seems to fall in a love / hate category. He is loved for looking the part, having obvious speed and punching power but hated for failing to test those skills against quality opposition. The announcement that he is facing Nicolai Firtha next has been met with huge disappointment.
It was expected that he would step up and face a proven opponent. Of the 3 fights he has had in 2013 he has endured less than 7 minutes in the ring.
In being matched against serial loser Audley Harrison and a way past his best Siarhei Liakhovich (who had lost 4 or his last 6 fight), there appears to be a careful plan to match him against guys who not only know how to lose, but have done so by knockout.
Wilder is now highly ranked, and seems to have gotten the ranking by reputation and statistic, rather than climbing up the rankings. His handlers are now clearly protecting that reputation by giving him more of the same in Nicolai Firtha. Another proven loser who has lost 3 of his last 5 fights. A guy that Tyson Fury stopped 2 years ago in his 15th fight. This is not the quality of opponent Wilder should be fighting at this stage.
Wilder isn’t learning because he isn’t being given the opportunity to learn. We need to know if he can box, if he can take a punch, if he has stamina. What will happen when he hits a guy that can take his punches, how will he adapt. Mike Tyson showed this when he faced James Tillis. Wilder should be past this level by now.
So the question I ask is, is there something his handlers know that we don’t? Why is he being carefully matched? If he is so ferocious and so hard punching, why is he not facing anyone in the top 10? I don’t blame wilder for this, I think he would fight anybody. He isn’t being allowed to.
Like many, I saw the recent Haye-Wilder sparring and was shocked at how badly Wilder looked. He was shaken and then seen missing wildly with big looping punches. I’m also mindful that it was a edited highlight video designed to make Haye look good, but Wilder was undeniably hurt.
I’m excited by the prospect of a hard punching, well-conditioned American heavyweight, who has the potential to become a big star and propel the heavyweight division out of mediocrity. The careful management of Wilder suggests that he will stealthily pad that KO streak and then come apart against the first decent heavyweight who can take his punches, and then punch back. Not because he doesn’t have the tools to succeed, but because he isn’t being afforded the opportunity to learn what do to.
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