By Gary Todd: When people go to watch heavyweight boxing it always has been about the excitement and anticipation of seeing two colossal specimens together in battle to see who can prevail and be victorious at the end, which normally ends up with one of them getting buzzed and relieved of their senses for a spell.
One split second of a lack of concentration, of leaving yourself open to an over hand right or a wide left hook or an uppercut they just didn’t see coming and their hopes and dreams go crashing to the canvas. It happens.
When you think about boxers who have exciting one punch knock out power in heavyweight boxing, one man’s name comes to mind, which is Deontay Wilder. With a record of 43 fights ( 42 Kos) 2 losses, ( 2 Kos) and 1 draw, the 6’7, fighter from Tuscaloosa has been a wrecking machine since his professional debut in 2008. The Beijing Olympic bronze medallist ( 30-5 in the amateurs ) demolished everyone on his path to heavyweight glory, making millions along the way and living up to his nickname, ‘ The Bronze Bomber’ Often scrutinised and criticised for his, at times awkward boxing skills, he silenced the critics, lighting up arenas by putting his opponents lights out
Another fighter who has been no slouch in the power department is the 2012 Olympic gold medalist, ( 40-3 in the amateurs ) Anthony Joshua. ( 25 ( 22 Kos) 3 losses ( 1 ko). As Wilder was bowling them over across the US, Anthony Joshua was cleaning out the domestic and European heavyweights, proving to be too strong, too big, and too powerful for them all. The 6’6 Joshua was the hope of a nation, a promoters dream and the next big thing. Although criticised for being robotic and muscle-bound, he was packing them in, stadium after stadium, lambs to the slaughter, each opponent, cannon fodder in a war for ultimate power and super star status and annihilation by using combination power punching and also looking good doing it. It seemed it would be only a matter of time before the two would meet. Money, politics, Ego, world titles, mandatory obligations, more money, and Tyson Fury, stopped the fight from happening. Joshua and Wilder would go their separate ways and opportunities would present themselves to both fighters and also in a split second, opportunities were lost in the haze of a knockout . It happens.
Joshua v Wilder should have been made then but here we are now and even though both fighters have been knocked down ( Joshua down 5 times, and Wilder down 6 times) and both fighters knocked out, there is still an interest to see what they each have left inside. There is questions that both fighters need to answer which makes this an exciting heavyweight fight . Can the 215Lb Wilder handle the 250Lb Joshua? Has Wilder fully recovered from the clubbing he took from Fury? Is Wilder a shot fighter?
There is also questions that Joshua needs to answer. Does he want to be there? Is he there for all the right reasons, not just the money? Is he mentally resilient? Will he be able to withstand Wilder’s wild punches? Is Joshua on the slide?
At 37, Wilder is near the end. If he beats Joshua, it’s difficult to see what path he takes, if any. Would he want to face his nemesis in Fury , which would leave Usyk. Joshua is not far behind and at 33, beating Wilder will set him up with a final fight with either Fury or Usyk.
It’s hard to analyse both fighters as when Wilder came back to fight his former sparring partner, Robert Helenius in October 2022, he quickly dispatched an underdone fighter who didn’t want to be there. Since that night, Wilder has been seen hammering the pads in the gym with the same scary power that has served him so well.
It is also tough to know what Joshua has left as in his most recent fight with Jermaine Franklin in early April of this year, he was hesitant to open up and engage, and anytime he got clipped, he went into his shell. He got the comeback win but he was criticised and has been written off by many.
If you look at both fighters records, and all things considered, it’s still an interesting exciting fight. I think it could be a classic but I also think the winner of this one will come down to who connects first. Wilder will do what he does and throw wild swinging punches from all angles, hoping to turn the lights off, and Joshua will systematically plod and box / jab, hoping to tire and break down and make Wilder’s legs betray him before clubbing the American to the floor.
Whatever questions are asked and answered, one thing is sure, it will be Bombs away.
Gary Todd is an international best selling author and he has been involved in the sport of boxing for over 30 years. His latest book, ‘ Annie’s Boy’ is available now in all stores and online.
