Wilder is 36-0 with 35 KO's yet he's not a star?

[Damn Wicked]

He's not controversial enough like his lower weight brethren. Black guys have to be bad guys in order to be successful in boxing.

Sure, like Holyfield and Lennox were playing the bad guy role, right?

If you want to play the victim role you'd better find better excuses than that. Stop crying.

[Fury4daWIN]

It's not so much a matter of opposition. Neither he, nor his opponents, are being promoted well enough. Duhaupas wasn't a bad opponent, but because he primarily fought in Europe no one in America knew who he was, and that led people to think he was a bum. The same was true, to a lesser degree, with Szpilka, though Pinhead had at least gained some traction among American fans fighting Mollo and Jennings. Povetkin's by far his best opponent, but to truly maximise the effect a win over him might have they need to start drilling into the minds of the casuals just how dangerous Povetkin is. Show some of his old fights, do a countdown etc. They need to put some goddamned effort in.

[fanofslug]

Why is this kid not a star like Tyson and Holyfield were back in the day? You'd think he'd be all over ESPN every time he fought like Tyson used to be...

He's an Olympic medal winner, and has the highest KO % in boxing I'm guessing amongst guys with 30+ fights...

Is it because boxing is just a niche sport these days? Wilder has the personality to draw people in like Tyson did yet he's a virtual nobody outside of big fans of the sport..

What has to change to bring back the days where an American Heavyweight Champ is a household name? Everyone knew who Ali,Frazier,Foreman,Holmes,Tyson,Holyfield were....now people couldn't pick Wilder out of a lineup...

The problem with Wilder is not who he has fought. He's not outrageous enough.

[ianjamsie]

Jennings would take Wilder.

[bchap05]

He isn't nearly a star by any means, but most of his top videos on youtube have 2.5-3.5 million views. Which for boxing is good. I've had a few co workers who are very casual mention wanting to see him fight. So he is getting there if he can beat Fury Klit winner he would be fine.

[barks62]

It's true...but it seem to me, being American, that the UK is way more fanatical about boxing then us...seems like UFC is taking over now, especially with the young crowd...when I watch fights from the UK, like Framtopn-Quigg, or the Last Joshua fight, I'm amazed at the atmosphere in the arena with the chanting and stuff...I wanna go to a fight over there so bad, hopefully I can do it someday...

This is so true! Watching the Frampton-Quigg fight on TV was awesome... I can't imagine how it would be to actually be there! The closest I've seen are the MLS games we have here in the States. The crowd was chanting and beating their drums the entire time. It was pretty great. You rarely get that here.

[A-Wolf]

Joshua is already a bigger name than Wilder and he's only been in the game for 5 minutes lol.

Wilder just needs a big win, then casuals will start taking notice.

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[removed]

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Joshua is already a PPV star and one of the biggest cash cows in boxing. Wilder is still fighting bums on regular cable. Who cares if the ignorant Yanks don't know who he is? The UK is the home of heavyweight boxing, not America.

[1hourRun]

Joshua is already a PPV star and one of the biggest cash cows in boxing. Wilder is still fighting bums on regular cable. Who cares if the ignorant Yanks don't know who he is? The UK is the home of heavyweight boxing, not America.

Dominic Breazel, Amir Monsour, Gerald Washington, Bryant Jennings, Baby Miller, Prince Charles, Bombsquad, Shannon the Canon, Tarver... STFU!

[SplitSecond]

The only logical explanation is because he's black.