(Photo credit: Naoki Fakuda) Now that the ice has settled on Saturday night’s farcical heavyweight (so called) world title fight between Bermane Stiverne (24-1-1, 21 KO’s) and the pathetic Chris Arreola (36-4, 31 KO’s) I am going to discuss how important the future of this WBC heavyweight strap is going to be.
The fight on Saturday night didn’t teach us anything that we didn’t already know before this weekend as the unfit and over weight Stiverne had already easily beaten the slightly less out of shape, Arreola in very similar fashion last year. However under heavy influence from the American Dollar the WBC were urged to make them fight again for the world (American) title even though neither man has ever proved that he can mix it with elite level guys from Europe or the rest of the world. This was most probably a smoke screen anyway as at the same time the average Deontay Wilder was told that he would be the mandatory challenger to the cherry picked winner.
Firstly, lets discuss Wilder’s credentials for his mandatory position. 31 fights 31 knockouts all against C and D level opposition, Wilder has never fought a contender ranked in the top 10 of any of the major organizations. Almost all of his opponents have been either grossly under skilled, over weight or a long way past their best, which is worrying considering some of these guys weren’t even C level fighters in their prime. Wilder did however beat a former great prospect from the U.K in the shape of Audley ‘A force’ Harrison. However Audley came into this fight at short notice and was both old and overweight. If Audley had come in for that fight in the same shape he was in when he lasted 2 rounds with David Haye years earlier, Audley would have likely destroyed Wilder exposing his lack of defence and soft chin. Since that fight Deontay has gone on to face Malik Scott, who is a former friend and sparring partner of Wilder’s and hit the floor after 1.30 seconds to a punch that appeared to be mostly blocked.
Secondly, lets discuss Wilder’s style. Deontay Wilder started boxing in 2005 and somehow managed to win himself an Olympic medal in controversial style in 2008, where he was beat up by the almost unknown Clemente Russo. Russo still hasn’t even turned pro because he clearly lacks the strength and technical ability even though he easily beat Wilder 7:1. Following the Olympics 6 years ago Deontay decided to turn pro where he has struggled to gain a real fan base due to the poor level of his opposition and the unskilled nature of his fights. He is somewhat unorthodox in his style, preferring to throw wide straight-armed windmill shots with the side of his fist instead of using his size and reach to pummel his opponents with textbook straight shots, like a proper contender like David Price would, but he doesn’t. Deontay has no real inside game to speak of and he relies on getting close so quickly and with such wide arms that it often looks untidy when he pushes his opponents in to the ropes. If he had a good inside game like Derick Chisora or the magnificent Tyson fury he would be able to move inside his opponents jab with control and hurt his opponent with body shots and uppercuts but he cant do that because he doesn’t have the chin or the technique. Wilder’s movement is also clearly only at the level of a good C level fighter as he doesn’t move his head enough except when he is rushing in uncontrollably throwing windmill rabbit punches. He also doesn’t move away from punches in the right way as he keeps getting nailed by really poor opponents with shorter reach even when he tries to fight on the outside. If he had great movement like the superb former world champion David Haye that would be nice but he doesn’t. Haye destroyed Wilder in their sparring sessions in the UK early last year. Even though Haye was clearly taking it easy and fighting at around 50 percent due to a shoulder injury he still nearly knocked out Deontay with balloon gloves and a head guard.
So to conclude, is this WBC heavyweight title the real deal or is it just manufactured for the American promoters to use as a money making tool. Deontay Wilder is clearly expected to get his shot in the near future, even though he has yet to fight a really good contender like David Price, Tyson or Hughie Fury, Derrick Chisora or David Haye. All these guys would easily defeat Wilder inside 3 rounds as he wouldn’t have a chance of connecting with his wide slow shots and his chin would get rocked early and hard. Clearly the shot has been targeted at a weak opponent in Stiverne who is a B level guy who beat a C level guy for the title and who is old and gets trapped on the ropes really easily which suits Wilder. After Wilder wins the title I expect him to defend it against mostly weak and inferior B and C level opposition such as Bryant Jennings, Mike perez or Tony Thompson, who are all American based surprise, surprise. It would be good to see Deontay fight some real opponents like Pulev, Fury or even Klitchko but he won’t because he knows that he would be destroyed easily and exposed for the paper champion that he is going to be.
Comments are closed.