Deontay Wilder's opponent finally named

[Drunken Cat]

He's fighting Chris Koval next week, according to boxrec.

I know it's just boxrec, but there seems to be a pattern of finding opponents a week before a fight, like they just call guys out at the last minute.

If not that, why the pattern. Why can't they ever announce an opponent more than a week and a half out.

Koval is pretty weak. On paper, he has more fights and wins than most of Wilder's opponents, but he's 1-6 in his last 7 including 5 by stoppage, and he's been KO/TKOd 6 times in 8 losses.

Moreover, this information is for testing purposes only, but he picked up an indefinite suspension 3 fights ago against Travis Kaufman by the Pennsylvania commission, and didn't fight for 15 months afterward.

I really like Wilder, but it's hard to be a fan of his based on his 20 fight career of horrendous matchmaking.

[Hougigo]

agreed, i'm waiting for him to fight an actual opponent worth getting excited about. I mean, 20 fights in... he should be stepping up his competition

[Drunken Cat]

He's like Tye Fields 2.0 at this point, which is a shame for an Olympic medalist.

I think he's better than Fields, but that many fights and still fighting this level of opposition is sort of shameful. I know he only had like 15 amateur fights pre-Olympics, but this sort of stuff makes it look like his people are just building him up for a payday, quite frankly. Or will he fight someone real before 30 fights?

[Superflo777]

Bum tour continues there.

[paul750]

That was the guy Briggs beat years ago.

[Russian Crushin]

JCC jr followed a similar path but he didnt have an amateur career. Wilder didnt have a decorated one but he had one including a medal in the olympics.

JCC struggled with then 8-1 Carlos molina twice(who now is facing Kirkland) and was 23-0. He obviously wasnt that good then and needed a very slow upbringing.

Wilder on the other hand is destroying nobodies and still continues to receive complete nobodies fight after fight. The guy is impressive in fight but why isnt he being chalanged even a tiny little bit? I dont get it

[WesleySnipes]

for how long they wanna do this? its getting old and boring...

[dan_cov]

Pathetic carry on.
You can't learn nothing from blasting out bums within a round.

Wouldn't be advised to put him in with a top 60 heavyweight as it would be a massive step up from these guys he's been facing.

Just another David Rodriguez with less punch resistance.

[BostonGuy]

His team is doing a huge disservice to him. Not only are they matching Wilder up against soft opposition, he's not getting any television exposure as well. He should be fighting regularly on FNF's against semi-decent opposition (he's more than capable IMO) to build up a fan base...

[GoogleMe]

He needs to step up, to get some REAL fight experience. Fighting bums, he can do that in sparring.