Will 2020 be Deontay Wilder´s consolidation year?

By Boxing News - 12/24/2019 - Comments

By Gerardo Granados: On February 22 in Las Vegas, the heavyweight WBC champion Deontay Wilder will try to defend his strap against Tyson Fury. I don’t need to say that the first fight was a good one or that the scorecards were disappointing, to say the least. In the first fight, I saw Fury beat the count and also outbox Wilder by a score of 116-112.

The rematch has all the ingredients to deliver yet another great fight but now without any controversial scoring. I think that since the first fight Wilder has improved and Fury has stalled.

Yes, Deontay is not a defensive wizard, but he has become a perfect stalker. His punching technique, his balance or technical habits still have plenty of room for improvement but this lanky heavyweight has perfected his boxing skill set to a level that his opponents aren’t allowed to commit a single mistake or risk end up nominated for a knockout of the year.

Once I doubted if Wilder could take a punch but he has proven me wrong twice against Luisito Ortiz. I also once doubted if he could be able to hurt and stop top-level opposition, but it is clear that Deontay possesses freakish punching power and that now can hurt and is capable of finishing off any opponent.

Wilder = mix of Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano

Call me crazy but I see Wilder as a mix of Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano. The Bronze Bomber is as patient as the Brown Bomber Joe Louis was waiting to catch his prey, to hurt them and to finish them off.

Maybe so far Deontay is not at the same level as the Brockton Blockbuster was, but Wilder does have showed heart and grit in many of his fights. Perhaps Wilder isn’t as charismatic as Louis and Marciano, but for sure Wilder does have way more punching power than they did. To me, Wilder resembles those great fighters who weren’t slick boxers but went into the ring to beat to the pulp all of their opponents. It’s strange to say it but not all current heavyweights have the killer instinct Wilder has.

With Andy Ruiz Jr out of the picture, now Anthony Joshua is free to pick whoever he wants next, but I don’t think he will choose a puncher next. I doubt that Joshua will risk fighting Wilder next unless he gets all the privileges and contractual conditions as the A-side. So a fight against former cruiserweight Champion Aleksandr Usyk is more viable for Joshua on his next fight. And depending on the result of his fight he could wait on Wilder to slow down until 2021.

Prediction: Wilder will beat Fury by KO

I see Wilder beating Fury at the rematch by a spectacular knockout of the year nominee. Hey, that’s my opinion but the reader must have his on the subject. They say that you are as good as your last fight and for me, Fury’s last fight against the brave Otto Wallin, doesn’t make me confident to bet my house on Tyson to beat a puncher like Wilder again.

The WBC stated that Ruiz might get a shot at their title. In my personal opinion, Ruiz isn’t deserving of it but that’s a possible fight for Wilder in 2020. I can see Wilder beating Ruiz even if Andy shows up well prepared. Ruiz would be an underdog but it still would be a good fight to watch.

Maybe the reader is thinking about Jarrell Miller as a possibility, but after his last banned substances test failure debacle, I don’t believe that he deserves a shot at any title any time soon. Perhaps a fight against Joseph Parker can bring good numbers. But for sure Dillian Whyte is an interesting challenge for Wilder.

2020 could be consolidation year for Wilder

I wonder if this is the year that Wilder finally consolidates himself in the preference of the boxing fans, not only American fans but also worldwide boxing fans recognition. Wilder is a genuine fighter who has challenged the best available, in his last four fights he stopped Ortiz in 10, had a controversial draw against Fury, annihilated Dominic Breazeale in just 1 round and knocked out Ortiz in 7.

Wilder is loud and well-articulated when he speaks, and draws attention to him. He is the kind of fighter that should be followed by real fight fans who like to enjoy the prizefighting essence and not by those who praise road runners’ impersonators.

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I believe that this will be Wilder’s consolidation year. But what about the reader, do you agree?