The myth that Wilder can't box

There is a misconception that Wilder can't box, but this is far from the truth. When bashing Wilder skills people usually bring up the Szpilka, Washington and Ortiz fights as he clearly dominated the others (okay, he lost control for 10 seconds against Molina). Szpilka: A fast southpaw, natural enemy for a one-two puncher with little amateur experience, started the fight with a lead of 18-6 power the first three rounds. By than Wilder started to adapt turning the tables and landing more punches at total, what is visible as Szpilka had a hard time landing anything in rounds 7 and 8. Because of this Szpilka started to use the looping left that Wilder took note, with 1 minute in round 9 he started to throw short rights to counter, getting the KO. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2016/jan/16/deontay-wilder-v-artur-szpilka-wbc-heavyweight-championship-live Washinton: Wilder was coming from his worst injurie and found a fast and big guy with a decent jab. Thus Wilder lack of activity charged the early rounds. In round 2 Washington started to use overhands to mix with the jab, no one of these landed but they made the jab more useful as it was a distraction. On round 3 Wilder took the overhand from him with left hooks and then started to take out his jab, by parrying, blocking and counter-jabbing, making Washington get passive from round 4. But the 1-2 wasn't landing because Washington timed it, so he broke the rhytim. Looking at the stats Wilder actually outjabbed Washington: https://www.boxingscene.com/deontay-wilder-gerald-washington-compubox-punch-stats--114013 Ortiz: Wilder kept his jab on Ortiz face to deprive him of a clean line of vision and landed it often enough to steal some rounds. He used his footwork to keep distance and to make Ortiz be the agressor, fighting out of his way. He kept feinting to remember Ortiz of his right hand. These three factors decreased Ortiz aggressiviness, but Ortiz started to time his left punches and landing them on Wilder's had. Than Wilder started to time his right to Ortiz left, making Ortiz throw less and starting to land his own. After being sucessful on round 5 he got careless and Ortiz used his chance to land a counter right hook, but Wilder showed his resilience in not being dropped through the 44 seconds he was hurt. After Wilder recovered on round 9, the right hooks didn't land anymore as Wilder blocked or ducked them. Wilder won 5 the 9 rounds and actually outjabbed Ortiz (keep in mind that Ortiz is a skilled southpaw, so the jab naturally loses efficiency): https://www.boxingscene.com/deontay-wilder-vs-luis-ortiz-compubox-punch-stats--125891 Common misconceptions: Weak jab: He outjabbed most if not all his opponents, including the three above, and Lennox Lewis actually praised his "long, hard jab" Weak defense: While he is very hittable to the body his head is hard to tag. He is no wizard but his defense is above average and definitely enough to support his offense Small ring IQ: The worst misconception, as it is visible his adjustments won him these three fights, actually, all his fights since he got the belt I'm not saying he isn't flawed or some supreme boxer, but his skills are definitely underrated

Comments (20)

If Wilder can't box then how come he has an incredible pro record, won an Olympic medal, and is a world champion? Seems pretty obvious you have to have some boxing skills for that. Only a freaking idiot would try to claim he has no boxing skills. The Olympic medal is actually an interesting point and something I always forget about. Considering how little amateur experience he had, achieving a medal in the Olympics is no small feat. Having said that, if he had such promise, why was he matched so slowly and so poorly for the very largest portion of his career?

6y ago

PRINCEKOOL

It is not a myth, his boxing skills are embarrassing. 'Wilder has a inability to shorten his punches, struggles to throw straight punches, zero creativity/variation, stands square on, footwork is terrible' He has gotten this far in his career, because of his power which is overrated and courage/gameness. Deontay Wilder is the most limited WBC boxing world champion I have seen ever in the heavyweight division 'From a technical perspective'

6y ago

kiaba360

Watch Wilder/Stiverne 1, Wilder can box. In fact if he had boxed like that every time out he might of developed instead of devolved into a fighter who just fights but doesn't box. The same can be said for Jarrett Hurd when he fought Frank Galarza; he showed the potential to grow into a tall lanky boxer-puncher with an outside/inside game. However, when Hurd and Wilder started stepping up the level of competition, they started heavily relying on their physical attributes rather than developing their skill-set. At least Hurd still has time because he's younger.

6y ago

4truth

Watch Wilder/Stiverne 1, Wilder can box. In fact if he had boxed like that every time out he might of developed instead of devolved into a fighter who just fights but doesn't box.

6y ago

SplitSecond

Wilder’s skills are low, relative to what a world class fighter should be. That said, extreme fitness/strength vs poor and unfit competition act as great compounding effects in Wilder’s favor.

6y ago

15_Rounds_again

Did you see him walking around the ring against Fury (and other opponents)), his 'footwork' was worse than.all the 11 years at our gym. He is athletic, but he has been very carefully matched, ducked AJ and Whyte and Wlad - hismpower.is hyped- like his whole ability has been hyoed. A completely tv created 'champion's who ran into a cherry pick gone wrong. Stick a fork in him, he's done.

6y ago

MDPopescu

Fury sure made him look like he couldn't box.:nana: ... :) ... this thread didn't age well...

6y ago

UNBANNED

What is this thread? Its not a myth. Wilder sucks

6y ago

Raggamuffin

If you don't think balance is part of boxing technique then you've clearly never stepped foot in a gym. Judging by the immaturity of your post, you're probably too young to do much more than do pads and hit the heavy bag. Bruh, there is a reason why you're an alt, lmao.

8y ago

denium

Wilder looks like someone off the street who took up a boxing class for 6 months. Posted from Boxingscene.com App for Android

8y ago

Stinger1

There isn't a thing that you can tell me what is wrong with Wilder or any fighter in this world alt. No alt or armchair...in their ****en life has ever told me the stupid **** that you want to tell me, lmao. Keep it to yourself, join a gym, and go try boxing...and see if what you say always works, lmao. If you don't think balance is part of boxing technique then you've clearly never stepped foot in a gym. Judging by the immaturity of your post, you're probably too young to do much more than do pads and hit the heavy bag.

8y ago

Raggamuffin

Do you really need me to list the all the things wrong technically with the punch he hurt Ortiz with? Being on balance is part of technical aspect of boxing, you need to have your feet in the right position and proper weigh transfer to generate power. There isn't a thing that you can tell me what is wrong with Wilder or any fighter in this world alt. No alt or armchair...in their ****en life has ever told me the stupid **** that you want to tell me, lmao. Keep it to yourself, join a gym, and go try boxing...and see if what you say always works, lmao.

8y ago

The_Gambler1981

Skillful is not the exact word I would use to describe Wilder and certainly not in a conventional sense either. He knows what he wants to do and can apply it fairly well, but it is not what one would would call text book boxing. He can however make it work because heavyweight boxing is not exactly a game where textbook skills are be all and end all because a guy will get hit even the best and most skillful small guy, but one punch at heavy can be fight altering much more frequently. This is the only way they could go with him though to take his raw talent and make it something usable, doing more would have turned in into less than what he is now even if it looked a bit prettier. Considering what he was coming in they did a great job with him and all those people that griped for years had no clue what they were talking about or looking at, so don't listen to them now~

8y ago

bojangles1987

high level fighters struggle in sparring with guys off the streets and amateurs! it happens, wilder isn't the most skilled I agree but to say hes this windmill swinging bum like you all say is going too far I'm not talking sparring, I'm talking every fight he's ever in. He's obviously not a bum, but his skill level is way below what a world class fighter's should be. He's made it this far off the power in his right hand. And there's nothing wrong with that, some fighters make it far off their power alone, especially at heavyweight. He might be good enough to be THE heavyweight champ. It doesn't change that Wilder's skill level is awful for a championship level fighter.

8y ago

bojangles1987

The skill level back in the 80's was much better over all though. If it wasn't for the cocaine plague during that time it would have been considered a deep and heavily talented era. For real, it's amazing sometimes to go back and watch a 80s heavyweight fight and see a basic skill level among contenders that would be considered amazing right now.

8y ago

Split_Decision

hes a better boxer and has a better jab than lennox his skills are second to none usa baybee

8y ago

Chrismart

I wouldn't say it's a myth that his boxing skills aren't high. He does a ton of things wrong. His boxing skills are sloppy. But he did just beat a guy who has better boxing skills. So there's that.

8y ago

Vinnykin

Wilder is no technician, he has one goal and that is to hurt you and then finish you, he's exciting because of this reason. He has height, reach, speed and power, and he can move around the ring well enough to beat most guys. He's an accident waiting to happen though, which makes me want to watch him in a way. Every time I do watch him fight it makes me feel bad though, seeing the HW championship has been reduced to small venues and seeing Wilder lose his balance, punch himself off his feet and windmill guys makes me desperate to see him in with the top guys.

8y ago

iamboxing

It's definitely a myth. If he can blast someone out he'll blast them out and entertain the crowd. You don't last as long as he has without some boxing skills.

8y ago

Stinger1

Being off balance and technique are two different things lol... I don't get your post. Do you really need me to list the all the things wrong technically with the punch he hurt Ortiz with? Being on balance is part of technical aspect of boxing, you need to have your feet in the right position and proper weigh transfer to generate power.

8y ago