Comments Thread For: Holyfield: Wilder Still Growing, We Must Give Him Time

[New England]

It's not about wanting to see him to lose. I actually like Wilder but I also want to see him take on some stiffer competition. He has an amateur career along with being an olympic medalists. He's now a pro with 34 bouts under his belt. If he isnt ready for the likes of a Povetkin at this point then something is wrong.

he had about 20 fights when he qualified for the olympics. he won the national golden gloves with around 15 fights. most olympians and guys with genuine amateur pedigrees have several times as many fights. they look it, too. wilder still looks uncomfortable and awkward in the ring.


if you know where to look, however, you can see improvements. i look for "spots" and then i look for guys to extend those spots / periods where they truly show you what they've got.


want ot watch a complete amateur coming out of the amateurs? ray leonard is the place to start. that kid had it all coming out of the olympics. speed, power, and the confidence that you can only get from being a successful boxer since you were a boy.

[Tom Cruise]

he's got a very low percentage of fat for a gigantic HW. he's lean like a weight class boxer. those kinds of athletes are getting rarer and rarer at HW. he'd put on 10 lbs of water weight and fat if he weren't such a gifted athlete with such gifted chemistry. maybe 20.


he's also got little legs, so his shoulders get a lot of that 220 lbs.

also, 220 isn't exactly little when you're ripped. joe louis was around 210 lbs and ripped in his prime. he broke max schmeling's back with a right hand . his back!

george foreman wasn't much more than 220 in his prime, and he was a superhuman puncher.

lamon brewster was a soft 225 when he stopped wladimir.

NE was a shredded 220 lb 20 year old when he deadlifted 495 for 2-3 reps.

you get the idea.

OK but at 220lbs at 30years old he isnt a 'big' modern heavyweight. His weight is about the same as Holyfield who was 200lbs up until he was getting towards late 20's and then at heavyweight reached around the 220 mark. I'd never describe Holyfield as a big modern heavyweight either.

If you read my post you'd see I said he doesnt need to be any bigger.

[Tom Cruise]

Agreed. Tall! But I thought he was over 225?

He's come in heavier, but when he fought Stiverne, which is presumably the fight he trained hardest for, his weight was 219lbs. Versus bums he comes in a bit heavier probably because he doesnt need to put his body under the same stress in camp to get the W.

I reckon if he fought some of the bigger fighters in the division he might put on a bit extra, but thats down to how him and his team want to do things. 220lbs delivered with proper technique, speed and timing > 230lbs sluggish and unbalanced work imo

People probably disagree with that, and it seems a lot of heavyweights now prefer to go with the extra weight method. Whether thats more muscle or, more often, more fat.

[New England]

Agreed. Tall! But I thought he was over 225?

he's been around 230 for quite a few of his recent fights.

he's certainly not small. his shoulders, hands, are f#cking enormous. he's also got a 7 foot reach, and he's 6.5+ feet tall.

[Zaroku]

He's come in heavier, but when he fought Stiverne, which is presumably the fight he trained hardest for, his weight was 219lbs. Versus bums he comes in a bit heavier probably because he doesnt need to put his body under the same stress in camp to get the W.

I reckon if he fought some of the bigger fighters in the division he might put on a bit extra, but thats down to how him and his team want to do things. 220lbs delivered with proper technique, speed and timing > 230lbs sluggish and unbalanced work imo

People probably disagree with that, and it seems a lot of heavyweights now prefer to go with the extra weight method. Whether thats more muscle or, more often, more fat.

I really enjoyed the stover r fight.

[Zaroku]

he's been around 230 for quite a few of his recent fights.

he's certainly not small. his shoulders, hands, are f#cking enormous. he's also got a 7 foot reach, and he's 6.5+ feet tall.

Agreed a tall guy with great reach.

I wish him well in his career.

[BWC]

Wilder is probably already the second best HW in the world. People need to get off his ****e. He started late and had a very short ammy career.

He is respected by guys like Holyfield, Lennox, and the like and sorry I trust their opinion a heck of a lot more than some schlubs on NSB.

[BWC]

right hands and jabs. there's a massive difference in reach, and more importantly footspeed, which is where klitschko's game at 40ish years old drops off. wladimir is strong as f, and just has to lean on you.


it would come down to ring generalship. if wilder can move properly and stay in the middle of the ring he's got every advantage. right now he'd lose. 12 rounds is a long time.

he's definitely got a shot to walk away with that fight if he learns to use his body correctly.

I dont buy that Povetkin would bring all this "pressure". The shots he will take trying to come in on Wilder will discourage that quickly..

[Tom Cruise]

Wilder is probably already the second best HW in the world. People need to get off his ****e. He started late and had a very short ammy career.

So you say he is the second best HW in the world, but also imply that he needs more time due to short Am career?

The second best HW in the world needs more fights against Molina and Duhuapas level?

Can't have it both ways.

[New England]

OK but at 220lbs at 30years old he isnt a 'big' modern heavyweight. His weight is about the same as Holyfield who was 200lbs up until he was getting towards late 20's and then at heavyweight reached around the 220 mark. I'd never describe Holyfield as a big modern heavyweight either.

If you read my post you'd see I said he doesnt need to be any bigger.

holyfield started his pro career a few lbs over the LHW limit, was a LHW on the '84 olympic team. he was a 190 lb cruiserweight for a while as well, and a world champion.


he was 220ish at the end of his career. for most of his prime he was around 210 lbs or less. wilder's not going to be 220 lbs when he's 40. he doesn't look loose in the least when he's 230 at appromiately 30 years old.