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Deontay Wilder is America's first world heavyweight titlist since Shannon Briggs staked a small and short lived claim to the heavyweight title in 2006. The WBC belt which Wilder, fondly labeled the "Brozne Bomber", holds is little more than the last pizza slice, as Wladimir Klitschko sits atop his throne, the legitimate heavyweight champion of the world. The general consensus is that the giant Ukrainian can swoop in for the only title that has eluded him, whenever and wherever he feels like. That is not to say Wilder is a bad fighter.
As America's last Olympic medalist and now their first heavyweight title holder in some 9 years, Wilder has a claim to fame. Some may say he has made history. This past weekend, in his home state of Alabama, Wilder made history yet again, hosting the first world title fight in the states long, darkened history. His opponent was Eric Molina, whose only previous flirtation with the so called elite of the division had come in 2012, against Chris Arreola. In his own little way, Molina too was trying to make history in becoming the first latin heavyweight titlist.
The fight unfolded with little or no interest from the mass sport media, this was a long way away from the heyday of the heavyweight division or even the publicity that a Klitschko fight heralds. For all the history at stake, this was a quiet sporting event which begs the question: if history was made and there was no one there to witness it, would history really have been made?
Wilder did his best in trying to build the bout, he hollered and danced and screeched his way through press conferences and TV appearances. For all his lack of world class experience in the ring, Wilder seems to be a charming and charismatic presence outside of it. It seems he requires the right vessel, a big fight, some controversy, anything to send him on his merry way as a boxing "superstar".
In terms of the fight itself, can anyone in sport be blamed for turning a blind eye? Molina was a huge underdog without a single good win on his record. Yes he could hit hard but Wilder hit harder. Molina, the quiet teacher from Texas was supposed to lose and lose quick. In the third round, he almost changed all that, with a sharp left hook that buckled Wilder's knees. Molina threw a few more punches and then backed away, a lack of determination or stamina? We'll never know. From then on, it was business as usual, with the Bronze Bomber dropping Molina 4 times en route to an uninspiring 9th round stoppage.
It is difficult to imagine a stoppage victory which was so ordinary and so poor. Wilder looked so nervous, so tentative, unwilling or not knowing how to press home the advantage against a weak but defensive foe. His punches were wild and he missed, a lot. I'm sure the Alabama natives in the arena loved it and from the reception they made for their son, it was obvious they still loved him. The problem is, Wilder was quiet in a division which needs noise.
Wladimir Klitschko has held a belt in the heavyweight division for almost a decade now. His cabinet consists of almost the entire English alphabet, apart from the WBC. It's a belt which was once regarded as the most prestigious in all boxing, maybe in all sport. Things have changed now. Wilder is viewed as a bench warmer, a crude puncher who is there for the taking. Many label contenders such as Tyson Fury and Alexander Povetkin as better fighters than Wilder. What is the younger Klitschko waiting for?
The answer may lay in a number of problems. Promotional and network issues, which have dampened boxing as a whole in the United States. There may be other reasons too, Britain's Tyson Fury is a more lucrative and better placed opponent, a rematch with Povetkin would probably sell out all across Europe. Can Wilder boast those claims? He is an unknown quantity in the country for which he fights. He has not been able to make noise at a time when he required it. His team is probably looking at a long string of opponents rather than legitimate contenders. Povetkin is mooted as the mandatory challenger but surely he would turn that down for a rematch with Wladimir?
So, Deontay Wilder, loud and charismatic but unheard and unseen. Deontay Wilder hard hitting but rarely connecting. Deontay Wilder, holder of the WBC title at a time when it means next to nothing. It is a sure sign of lack of depth withing a division when a fighter, who is still prospect like in many ways, is a "champion". What's even more disheartening is that there are only 2 or 3 other top heavyweights who could beat him.
The Great American Hope may be hopeless but then again, he could prove me and those like me wrong. I hope he does, the division needs it but if he carries on like he did on the weekend, unable or unwilling to grab the brass ring, then we can look forward to a few more years of skilled but characterless European domination. It's the cycle of life, the food chain.
As America's last Olympic medalist and now their first heavyweight title holder in some 9 years, Wilder has a claim to fame. Some may say he has made history. This past weekend, in his home state of Alabama, Wilder made history yet again, hosting the first world title fight in the states long, darkened history. His opponent was Eric Molina, whose only previous flirtation with the so called elite of the division had come in 2012, against Chris Arreola. In his own little way, Molina too was trying to make history in becoming the first latin heavyweight titlist.
The fight unfolded with little or no interest from the mass sport media, this was a long way away from the heyday of the heavyweight division or even the publicity that a Klitschko fight heralds. For all the history at stake, this was a quiet sporting event which begs the question: if history was made and there was no one there to witness it, would history really have been made?
Wilder did his best in trying to build the bout, he hollered and danced and screeched his way through press conferences and TV appearances. For all his lack of world class experience in the ring, Wilder seems to be a charming and charismatic presence outside of it. It seems he requires the right vessel, a big fight, some controversy, anything to send him on his merry way as a boxing "superstar".
In terms of the fight itself, can anyone in sport be blamed for turning a blind eye? Molina was a huge underdog without a single good win on his record. Yes he could hit hard but Wilder hit harder. Molina, the quiet teacher from Texas was supposed to lose and lose quick. In the third round, he almost changed all that, with a sharp left hook that buckled Wilder's knees. Molina threw a few more punches and then backed away, a lack of determination or stamina? We'll never know. From then on, it was business as usual, with the Bronze Bomber dropping Molina 4 times en route to an uninspiring 9th round stoppage.
It is difficult to imagine a stoppage victory which was so ordinary and so poor. Wilder looked so nervous, so tentative, unwilling or not knowing how to press home the advantage against a weak but defensive foe. His punches were wild and he missed, a lot. I'm sure the Alabama natives in the arena loved it and from the reception they made for their son, it was obvious they still loved him. The problem is, Wilder was quiet in a division which needs noise.
Wladimir Klitschko has held a belt in the heavyweight division for almost a decade now. His cabinet consists of almost the entire English alphabet, apart from the WBC. It's a belt which was once regarded as the most prestigious in all boxing, maybe in all sport. Things have changed now. Wilder is viewed as a bench warmer, a crude puncher who is there for the taking. Many label contenders such as Tyson Fury and Alexander Povetkin as better fighters than Wilder. What is the younger Klitschko waiting for?
The answer may lay in a number of problems. Promotional and network issues, which have dampened boxing as a whole in the United States. There may be other reasons too, Britain's Tyson Fury is a more lucrative and better placed opponent, a rematch with Povetkin would probably sell out all across Europe. Can Wilder boast those claims? He is an unknown quantity in the country for which he fights. He has not been able to make noise at a time when he required it. His team is probably looking at a long string of opponents rather than legitimate contenders. Povetkin is mooted as the mandatory challenger but surely he would turn that down for a rematch with Wladimir?
So, Deontay Wilder, loud and charismatic but unheard and unseen. Deontay Wilder hard hitting but rarely connecting. Deontay Wilder, holder of the WBC title at a time when it means next to nothing. It is a sure sign of lack of depth withing a division when a fighter, who is still prospect like in many ways, is a "champion". What's even more disheartening is that there are only 2 or 3 other top heavyweights who could beat him.
The Great American Hope may be hopeless but then again, he could prove me and those like me wrong. I hope he does, the division needs it but if he carries on like he did on the weekend, unable or unwilling to grab the brass ring, then we can look forward to a few more years of skilled but characterless European domination. It's the cycle of life, the food chain.
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