A Farewell tribute to America's best heavyweight of the current era.

[nixxter]

I respectfully disagree. He fought B-level opposition for his first 38 fights; he and his opponents were hyped up by PBC. He priced himself out of the Joshua fight by demanding a 50/50 split when Joshua was out-earning him by a ratio of at least 10:1 in both fight revenue and endorsements.

A small correction - he beat mostly cabbies in his first 30 or so fights, then a few C & D level guys and finally an old B-level guy in Ortiz.
That's where the BS stats (number of wins, KO ratio, title defenses, etc.) come from.

[billeau2]

His amateur career was brief, but culminated in an Olympic Bronze medal.

His power was superlative on an historic level, placing him in the company of Liston, Foreman, Marciano and Louis in regards to that aspect of the sport.

He functioned in an age of large, modern heavyweights, though he finished his career at a mere 214 lbs.

His body of work saw him:

Win more title fights than any of his contemporaries.

Achieving a higher KO percentage than any of his contemporaries.

In his prime, when there were "Three Kings" at heavyweight, (Wilder, Fury, Joshua), he chased after one of the other two longstanding champions, and battled him in 3 epics, while the 3rd champion (Joshua) faltered against rank underdogs and failed to join in.

He didn't taste a singe defeat until he was 34 years of age. That is the age that Anthony Joshua is at today.

His career opposition was lesser than those with whom he shared his era, but not by much, and what he lacked in boxing style and science, he made up for with courage, attitude, conditioning, athleticism and raw power; and what made him a shoe-in future hall of famer - The ability to find the target for that power in 44 of 48 outings.

Rank him where you will, but He always tried, and always got up when he was down.

Indeed! Sad how this thread immediately and predictably became populated by haters and naysayers. Wilder had a fantastic run for a guy who did not have the tool box of so many other punchers. basically he had that scary Billy Jack shiat going on "I am going to take this right hand, plant it on your face and there is not a thing your going to do about it!"

Also, a lot of these so called "B level" guys like Beazel became such AFTER Wilder showed them the error of their ways. Aside from that? People disparaged Ortiz to Make Wilder less of a fighter when Ortiz won lots of great fights.

Wilders Trilogy with the Gypsy King was fantastic.

My only nagging thang is...Wilder did not look shot, neglected, unable his last fight... he looked confused. He looked rusty and overwhelmed. Where as he would usually dance away from his opponent and come ambushing across the ring, he stayed in front of Zhang... He even willingly went into the corner. This was strange. Not like him at all.

I like Juggernaut's suggestion as it applies strictly to Wilder: Go Bridgeweight, get your rust out, fight at a proverbial lesser weight, and if you get back in the groove, you (Wilder) know you can beat the best of the larger fellows with your punch.

[M312]

A Farewell tribute to America's worst heavyweight of the current era


This could also work based on skill level.

[daggum]

Indeed! Sad how this thread immediately and predictably became populated by haters and naysayers. Wilder had a fantastic run for a guy who did not have the tool box of so many other punchers. basically he had that scary Billy Jack shiat going on "I am going to take this right hand, plant it on your face and there is not a thing your going to do about it!"

Also, a lot of these so called "B level" guys like Beazel became such AFTER Wilder showed them the error of their ways. Aside from that? People disparaged Ortiz to Make Wilder less of a fighter when Ortiz won lots of great fights.

Wilders Trilogy with the Gypsy King was fantastic.

My only nagging thang is...Wilder did not look shot, neglected, unable his last fight... he looked confused. He looked rusty and overwhelmed. Where as he would usually dance away from his opponent and come ambushing across the ring, he stayed in front of Zhang... He even willingly went into the corner. This was strange. Not like him at all.

I like Juggernaut's suggestion as it applies strictly to Wilder: Go Bridgeweight, get your rust out, fight at a proverbial lesser weight, and if you get back in the groove, you (Wilder) know you can beat the best of the larger fellows with your punch.

he won a lot of great fights? ortiz and wilder were both hype guys. they didnt really beat a lot of good quality opponents. wilder has 2 top 10 wins and ortiz 1. dillian whyte who is a bum and a nobody according to some has 3

[Toffee]

Just think, if Charles Martin hadn't taken the Joshua money then this could have been him.

[Pac=Duran]

Andy Ruiz is a better all around fighter and his Joshua win trumps anything Wilder has done but I've been a Bombsquad fan from day one. I have no problem with you thinking he's a better fighter.

It's true man. Ruiz is the best American heavy of this era. He didn't duck hard fights and has an epic win vs Joshua

[billeau2]

he won a lot of great fights? ortiz and wilder were both hype guys. they didnt really beat a lot of good quality opponents. wilder has 2 top 10 wins and ortiz 1. dillian whyte who is a bum and a nobody according to some has 3

Your the idiot that refuses to acknowledge that Wilder fought in the same pool of heavyweights as every other major player did... Ortiz was an undefeated fighter going in and also fought from the same such pool. Ortiz was no hype job, actually watch the fights you comment on! He had excellent fundamentals. Whyte beat and lost to... you guessed it!!! the samen pool of fighters.

Ortiz Fury, etc... the era is weak Wilder's comp is average for the era you fuul!

[SUBZER0ED]

Wilder's fundamentals were horrible, but he did have a thunderous right hand, and he knew how to land it. He became a millionaire off what limited skills he had. Got to give him credit for that. Now, he should just ride off into the sunset and take care of himself and his family. BOMBBBBBB SQUAADD!!!

[Haka]

He did give a good account of himself against Fury but he stayed a bit too long in the PBC bubble, so his title run is a bit artificial. But that is how boxing works.

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

Wilder was a massive overachiever. It’s quite remarkable a guy with limited technique and simply a dynamite right hand made 10 defences of the WBC Heavyweight title.

Was always in entertaining fights too. Was must see tv because he was vulnerable but so dangerous.

A complete wack job of a person could never really take to him on a personal level but as a fighter there was a lot to like.

He should definitely retire.