Why does Wilder hold his hands so close to his body?

[SlySlickSmooth]

Hands drown requires much less energy...your hands get very heavy after you have thrown a lot of punches. It makes for a terrible defense but some fighters can get away with it if the have very long arms and can fight from a distance or have incredible speed and reflexes...but speed fades as you age and you saw what happened to Roy Jones Jr when you fight like that.

Klitschko fights hands up and has the conditioning to do it and negates Wilder's size advantage...although Wilder has a 2" reach advantage. Klitschko is where Wilder's hands down style will likely get him KO'd.

I would figure so but I think his hands down would be a nightmare against an active fighter on the inside or someone of equal to better talent. Stiverne and Molina were able to slip a few right hands probably because it comes off telegraphed when Wilder has to move so much weight.

As much as I think Fury would beat Klitschko and Wilder, Anthony Joshua looks like the type of boxer to really trouble these big men that fight heavily to their large stature. Joshua is going to be a scary fighter in the future if he has a good chin.

[jaded]

I would figure so but I think his hands down would be a nightmare against an active fighter on the inside or someone of equal to better talent. Stiverne and Molina were able to slip a few right hands probably because it comes off telegraphed when Wilder has to move so much weight.

As much as I think Fury would beat Klitschko and Wilder, Anthony Joshua looks like the type of boxer to really trouble these big men that fight heavily to their large stature. Joshua is going to be a scary fighter in the future if he has a good chin.

He DOES get hit...Molina had him a but wobbled last night. He used to be Klitschko's sparring partner...I'm pretty sure Klitschko knows exactly how to put him away. BTW...just to be clear...I wasn't saying fighting hands down is a good thing for him to do...it's his flaw as far as I'm concerned.

[SlySlickSmooth]

He DOES get hit...Molina had him a but wobbled last night. He used to be Klitschko's sparring partner...I'm pretty sure Klitschko knows exactly how to put him away. BTW...just to be clear...I wasn't saying fighting hands down is a good thing for him to do...it's his flaw as far as I'm concerned.

Wilder is still just a contender with a title if that makes sense.

[Ray*]

https://********/7-ZmODFI5h4

Mark Breland(c) vs Lloyd Honeyghan - WBA 147 title

Doesn't all the way make sense for me either, but the person who's teaching Wilder to fight was taught to do the same types of things and was pretty successful with it.

Basically how boxing has always worked; a young fighter learns from an ex-fighter, who was taught by an ex-fighter, who was taught by an ex-fighter.

Lol pretty much the circle of life.

[Cutthroat]

It's a shame Steward passed, he would've been a GREAT trainer for Wilder.

We saw how he turned some nobody getting sparked by journeymen into the HW champ Wlad is today.

His coaches don't know what they're doing, he needs to switch asap.

[BostonGuy]

What is his coach teaching him? I know I'm on the outside looking in but I hate the way Wilder holds BOTH hands so close to his stomach when he stalks. His hands aren't pro active and leave him open to counter shots or a quick pot shot.

When Wilder shoots his jab its almost like he's backhanding from his waist. He has flashes of a good 1-2 combination but just seems like a guy who is very afraid of making a mistake but isn't being defensively responsible to give him time to think. He often just pulls back in a straight line to defend.

For a tall/rangy fighter one would think he should/could keep his left arm extended to have a more piston like jab at the ready. But instead he jabs from the stomach and retracts back to the stomach. I understand he's utilizing his reach so he holds it low but he could be a lot more polished.

This is a good criticism as I was thinking the same thing the other night watching him. I'd say half the time Wilder has a good solid quick and powerful jab. Other times he throws the jab from his mid body sideways or sidearm; it's very unorthodox and seems lackadaisical and susceptible to an easy counter punch