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'wraps thoughts/analysis on Wlider/Stiverne
So, just watched the fight. (Was busy on fight night), and I have to say, some people out there are blowing Wilders performance out of proportion. Stiverne was a quality opponent going into the fight, and will remain a quality name on Wilders resume, and he did win a title with it, but the praise on my part basically stop there. Stiverne was there to be hit more often than not, and he did nothing to take away Wilders natural advantages of height and reach. You can't not move your head, AND be gunshy, AND come forward, AND be behind on points. It just won't work in your favor. Yes, you can win a fight with a lucky/well timed punch, but you don't gamble on it. Wilder did what he was supposed to do essentially, he used his jab, he set up punches, and he used ring generalship, but he was very unimpressive while doing so. It was Stiverne would could have made a war out of this, but he chose to be content with sitting in front of Wilder and throwing hooks and body punches which mostly fell short, and now and then slipped shots, but Wilder also was content with moving around, trying to look slick at times, and control the fight with his jab. This was supposed to be his coming out party, he looked vulnerable.
The flaws in Wilders game were apparent, his defense is questionable, he drops his hands too often, and his 1-2 combo is too predictable. At one point I was just wondering why he wasn't getting Stiverne out of there: he was almost landing at will at times, and he had him badly hurt around the 6th round iirc, and couldn't finish it. I blame Stiverne more than Wilder for how the fight developed, but Wilder was wildly unimpressive (pun intended). he wasn't forced to adjust, he wasn't forced to fight, and he didn't explode onto his opponent when he was well able to. So he gets some spotlight, and he beats a quality opponent all things considered, but I need to see more to be convinced he can be a true contender in this (weak) era and division of HW, and not just a fringe paper champ.
I said it before this fight, and I believe it with even more certainty now: Fury stops Wilder in 6. Fury will pressure him, make him fight on his backfoot, and force him to fight, and when Wilder gets into exchanges with Fury he will be on the losing end. Wilder has the power to knock Fury down, but he won't stop him. Fury has too much speed, higher ring IQ, better defense, and a granite chin, and if Wilder doesn't step up to the plate, it's essentially a duck.
That being said, Wilder getting some shine is good for boxing in the end, so well done to him and his camp for that.
The flaws in Wilders game were apparent, his defense is questionable, he drops his hands too often, and his 1-2 combo is too predictable. At one point I was just wondering why he wasn't getting Stiverne out of there: he was almost landing at will at times, and he had him badly hurt around the 6th round iirc, and couldn't finish it. I blame Stiverne more than Wilder for how the fight developed, but Wilder was wildly unimpressive (pun intended). he wasn't forced to adjust, he wasn't forced to fight, and he didn't explode onto his opponent when he was well able to. So he gets some spotlight, and he beats a quality opponent all things considered, but I need to see more to be convinced he can be a true contender in this (weak) era and division of HW, and not just a fringe paper champ.
I said it before this fight, and I believe it with even more certainty now: Fury stops Wilder in 6. Fury will pressure him, make him fight on his backfoot, and force him to fight, and when Wilder gets into exchanges with Fury he will be on the losing end. Wilder has the power to knock Fury down, but he won't stop him. Fury has too much speed, higher ring IQ, better defense, and a granite chin, and if Wilder doesn't step up to the plate, it's essentially a duck.
That being said, Wilder getting some shine is good for boxing in the end, so well done to him and his camp for that.
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