Comments Thread For: Wilder Fight Would Be Anderson's Opportunity To Say 'He's The Next American Great Coming Through The Ranks'

[BoxerWriter]

I can't see this happening personally. I think it's fairly obvious that Wilder will face Joshua at Wembley in September in a megafight if he beats Zhang in impressive fashion. I think that's the only reason Hearn signed him on a fight by fight basis. Wilder knows this and knows what he's really fighting for when he steps in the ring with Big ****. The trouble is, I think he may be done already. Those Fury fights - the last two in particular - were prolonged and savage beatdowns that fighters rarely recover from. If Zhang clips him early - and he's accurate and heavy-handed enough to do it - then Wilder could get flattened within four or five rounds. If he makes it past that, Zhang should fade like he usually does. It's a seriously unpredictable fight, but you've got to favour Zhang on recent form, even though they're both coming off defeats. Even so, it's clear the hope is for Wilder to win in style and finally face Joshua in a megafight. It was the plan all along and clearly why Day of Reckoning was set up, but Parker beating Wilder threw a spanner in the works. They've course corrected and set things in motion again. It's all worked out... but best laid plans as they say! I have a feeling Zhang might be the spoiler this time. Even so, I think all this talk of Wilder being lined up for Anderson is largely Anderson's promoters trying to keep him relevant. He's a talented prospect, but if Wilder beats Zhang, I'm almost certain he won't face Anderson next. It'll be Joshua at Wembley or a Parker rematch at Wembley followed by Joshua for the IBF title if AJ fights and defeats the winner of Dubois-Hrgovic in September before facing Wilder. I genuinely think they'll go straight to Joshua-Wilder though after learning their lesson after Day of Reckoning. AJ v Deontay is the fight that the Saudis have wanted for years, possibly second only to Fury v AJ, and they clearly hope to make both.

[Toffee]

If Wilder beats Zhang then surely he's back on the Joshua/Saudi gravy train.

If he loses that's 4 losses in his last 5 with the only win against Hellenius. Will people still bother making Wilder fights?

[1Eriugenus]

Agree with Boxerwriter, it won’t happen. If Wilder beats Zhang he gets Joshua. If he loses he really should retire. There are a lot of good young HWs out there to fight Jared. Martin Bakole, Frank Sanchez or Daniel Dubois jump to mind. Or he could fight Dillian Whyte

[pollywog]

Jared Anderson could fight Deontay Wilder on August 3 in Los Angeles, providing Wilder comes through his June 1 fight in Saudi Arabia with Zhilei Zhang unscathed.

I don't see Wilder coming through unscathed unless Zhang falls over from a paw to the face in the first round like Wilder's ol mate Helenius.

But expecting Wilder to have 2 fights in two months against top guys when he's barely had 2 fights in 2 years is laughable.

[SUBZER0ED]

It's a big step up for Anderson, but I don't see nearly 40-year-old Wilder stepping down to fight him. It's big-ticket fights or nothing for him at this point, imo.

[Willow The Wisp]

I can't see this happening personally. I think it's fairly obvious that Wilder will face Joshua at Wembley in September in a megafight if he beats Zhang in impressive fashion. I think that's the only reason Hearn signed him on a fight by fight basis. Wilder knows this and knows what he's really fighting for when he steps in the ring with Big ****. The trouble is, I think he may be done already. Those Fury fights - the last two in particular - were prolonged and savage beatdowns that fighters rarely recover from. If Zhang clips him early - and he's accurate and heavy-handed enough to do it - then Wilder could get flattened within four or five rounds. If he makes it past that, Zhang should fade like he usually does. It's a seriously unpredictable fight, but you've got to favour Zhang on recent form, even though they're both coming off defeats. Even so, it's clear the hope is for Wilder to win in style and finally face Joshua in a megafight. It was the plan all along and clearly why Day of Reckoning was set up, but Parker beating Wilder threw a spanner in the works. They've course corrected and set things in motion again. It's all worked out... but best laid plans as they say! I have a feeling Zhang might be the spoiler this time. Even so, I think all this talk of Wilder being lined up for Anderson is largely Anderson's promoters trying to keep him relevant. He's a talented prospect, but if Wilder beats Zhang, I'm almost certain he won't face Anderson next. It'll be Joshua at Wembley or a Parker rematch at Wembley followed by Joshua for the IBF title if AJ fights and defeats the winner of Dubois-Hrgovic in September before facing Wilder. I genuinely think they'll go straight to Joshua-Wilder though after learning their lesson after Day of Reckoning. AJ v Deontay is the fight that the Saudis have wanted for years, possibly second only to Fury v AJ, and they clearly hope to make both.

Great post. Several good observations and prognostications on the thread, with this offers especially good thinking out loud, IMO.

Parker was a tough spoiler after virtually 2 years off and being 38 for America's best, but he was almost as gunshy as Wilder and no harm was done.
Zhang is a far more dangerous proposition however, and Wilder has to box like he hasn't had to since 2015 to survive the first 8 rounds and close the show late.
Zhang is a better fighter than Joyce and Joyce is a better fighter than Parker, so Wilder will have his work cut out for him here.

The passing of the torch fight between Wilder and Anderson now only makes sense if Wilder loses to Zhang.

Should Wilder act 8 - 10 years younger, bring Zhang deep and drop him, he'll have rendered the best performance at heavyweight in years, and Joshua will to continue to run from him. Likely, I suppose, towards the Hrgovic - Dubois winner.

If after all of his trials, if Joshua ends up with wins over Wilder and Fury, he'll own the era. it's not over till its over.

By then, I imagine that Usyk will have been beaten out of the picture by Fury.

As for Anderson; he could be the next Calvin Brock/Michael Grant, or the first great heavyweight of the next era. We have no idea yet.

Lots of ways this could go.
Good times for heavyweight boxing.

[Kevsfine]

Anderson would get washed by Dubois, Zang, the other Big baby, and even Ortiz, and we all know it….he’s not that that good!

[pollywog]

Zhang is a better fighter than Joyce and Joyce is a better fighter than Parker, so Wilder will have his work cut out for him here.

Good times for heavyweight boxing.

Parker with no illness carried into the fight with Joyce would have been a different result.

Parker is a better fighter than Joyce and Zhang and Wilder.

I'd like to see how Parker would fare against Usyk but sadly i think Usyk retires after Fury whatever the result.

Im not interested in Wilder v AJ anymore or AJ v Fury or AJ v Usyk.

I think there's unfunished business with AJ Parker but Hearn wont let his princess bride anywhere near the Mighty Oilskin for fear he'd get de-flowered.

I think the winner of Zhang Wilder will get fed to AJ as they will have been aged out and shop worn enough for AJ to follow Parkers lead and win by decision.

[BlackRobb]

Wilder is not turning around that fast after Zhang. That's if he gets past Zhang, which is doubtful.

[kingstip9]

Anderson seems like a nice person, and a decent enough top ten fighter

but I don’t see a world champion

happy to be proven wrong