The myth that Wilder can't box

[Just looking]

There is a misconception that Wilder can't box, but this is far from the truth. When bashing Wilder skills people usually bring up the Szpilka, Washington and Ortiz fights as he clearly dominated the others (okay, he lost control for 10 seconds against Molina).
Szpilka: A fast southpaw, natural enemy for a one-two puncher with little amateur experience, started the fight with a lead of 18-6 power the first three rounds. By than Wilder started to adapt turning the tables and landing more punches at total, what is visible as Szpilka had a hard time landing anything in rounds 7 and 8. Because of this Szpilka started to use the looping left that Wilder took note, with 1 minute in round 9 he started to throw short rights to counter, getting the KO. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/li...mpionship-live
Washinton: Wilder was coming from his worst injurie and found a fast and big guy with a decent jab. Thus Wilder lack of activity charged the early rounds. In round 2 Washington started to use overhands to mix with the jab, no one of these landed but they made the jab more useful as it was a distraction. On round 3 Wilder took the overhand from him with left hooks and then started to take out his jab, by parrying, blocking and counter-jabbing, making Washington get passive from round 4. But the 1-2 wasn't landing because Washington timed it, so he broke the rhytim. Looking at the stats Wilder actually outjabbed Washington: https://www.boxingscene.com/deontay-...-stats--114013
Ortiz: Wilder kept his jab on Ortiz face to deprive him of a clean line of vision and landed it often enough to steal some rounds. He used his footwork to keep distance and to make Ortiz be the agressor, fighting out of his way. He kept feinting to remember Ortiz of his right hand. These three factors decreased Ortiz aggressiviness, but Ortiz started to time his left punches and landing them on Wilder's had. Than Wilder started to time his right to Ortiz left, making Ortiz throw less and starting to land his own. After being sucessful on round 5 he got careless and Ortiz used his chance to land a counter right hook, but Wilder showed his resilience in not being dropped through the 44 seconds he was hurt. After Wilder recovered on round 9, the right hooks didn't land anymore as Wilder blocked or ducked them. Wilder won 5 the 9 rounds and actually outjabbed Ortiz (keep in mind that Ortiz is a skilled southpaw, so the jab naturally loses efficiency): https://www.boxingscene.com/deontay-...-stats--125891
Common misconceptions:
Weak jab: He outjabbed most if not all his opponents, including the three above, and Lennox Lewis actually praised his "long, hard jab"
Weak defense: While he is very hittable to the body his head is hard to tag. He is no wizard but his defense is above average and definitely enough to support his offense
Small ring IQ: The worst misconception, as it is visible his adjustments won him these three fights, actually, all his fights since he got the belt

I'm not saying he isn't flawed or some supreme boxer, but his skills are definitely underrated

[bojangles1987]

It's not a myth, Wilder's fundamentals are complete **** and he gets outboxed all the damn time. Ortiz is a good fighter but your other two examples are not the kind of guys that should be outboxing you if you're a championship level fighter.

I don't know how Wilder got this far because he's a really poor boxer. His footwork, timing, and ability to judge distance are really bad for the level he succeeds at.

[Just looking]

It's not a myth, Wilder's fundamentals are complete **** and he gets outboxed all the damn time. Ortiz is a good fighter but your other two examples are not the kind of guys that should be outboxing you if you're a championship level fighter.

I don't know how Wilder got this far because he's a really poor boxer. His footwork, timing, and ability to judge distance are really bad for the level he succeeds at.

If you read the post you will know you are wrong. He wasn't outboxed by any of these. He outlanded and outjabbed all of them and with time adjusted. Notice how little Washington landed on rounds 4 and 5, do you really think Washington would win any round if that kept going?

[chrisJS]

His Boxing skills are below average. Let's face it they are poor. He has a get out of jail card with his power which in the heavyweight division is a big deal and especially in this heavyweight division with his competition.

I've seen Wilder fans try to paint him as some master boxer now. It's going to be interesting to see if these fans stick around when he loses and how his skills will be viewed then.

[bojangles1987]

If you read the post you will know you are wrong. He wasn't outboxed by any of these. He outlanded and outjabbed all of them and with time adjusted. Notice how little Washington landed on rounds 4 and 5, do you really think Washington would win any round if that kept going?

I watched the fights. They tell me your post is wrong.

[Johnston]

You can spin it however you want but facts are he's extremely flawed and lacks a lot of basic skills. His power makes up for everything that's why he's dangerous and a threat to anyone

[Raggamuffin]

There is a misconception that Wilder can't box, but this is far from the truth. When bashing Wilder skills people usually bring up the Szpilka, Washington and Ortiz fights as he clearly dominated the others (okay, he lost control for 10 seconds against Molina).
Szpilka: A fast southpaw, natural enemy for a one-two puncher with little amateur experience, started the fight with a lead of 18-6 power the first three rounds. By than Wilder started to adapt turning the tables and landing more punches at total, what is visible as Szpilka had a hard time landing anything in rounds 7 and 8. Because of this Szpilka started to use the looping left that Wilder took note, with 1 minute in round 9 he started to throw short rights to counter, getting the KO. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/li...mpionship-live
Washinton: Wilder was coming from his worst injurie and found a fast and big guy with a decent jab. Thus Wilder lack of activity charged the early rounds. In round 2 Washington started to use overhands to mix with the jab, no one of these landed but they made the jab more useful as it was a distraction. On round 3 Wilder took the overhand from him with left hooks and then started to take out his jab, by parrying, blocking and counter-jabbing, making Washington get passive from round 4. But the 1-2 wasn't landing because Washington timed it, so he broke the rhytim. Looking at the stats Wilder actually outjabbed Washington: https://www.boxingscene.com/deontay-...-stats--114013
Ortiz: Wilder kept his jab on Ortiz face to deprive him of a clean line of vision and landed it often enough to steal some rounds. He used his footwork to keep distance and to make Ortiz be the agressor, fighting out of his way. He kept feinting to remember Ortiz of his right hand. These three factors decreased Ortiz aggressiviness, but Ortiz started to time his left punches and landing them on Wilder's had. Than Wilder started to time his right to Ortiz left, making Ortiz throw less and starting to land his own. After being sucessful on round 5 he got careless and Ortiz used his chance to land a counter right hook, but Wilder showed his resilience in not being dropped through the 44 seconds he was hurt. After Wilder recovered on round 9, the right hooks didn't land anymore as Wilder blocked or ducked them. Wilder won 5 the 9 rounds and actually outjabbed Ortiz (keep in mind that Ortiz is a skilled southpaw, so the jab naturally loses efficiency): https://www.boxingscene.com/deontay-...-stats--125891
Common misconceptions:
Weak jab: He outjabbed most if not all his opponents, including the three above, and Lennox Lewis actually praised his "long, hard jab"
Weak defense: While he is very hittable to the body his head is hard to tag. He is no wizard but his defense is above average and definitely enough to support his offense
Small ring IQ: The worst misconception, as it is visible his adjustments won him these three fights, actually, all his fights since he got the belt

I'm not saying he isn't flawed or some supreme boxer, but his skills are definitely underrated

Wilder's criticism comes from when he was finishing guys in the past. Anytime you see them say "his fundamentals are trash or he's windmilling" doesn't come from his style. The Washington fight is why they say what they say.

[Eddy Current]

If Wilder can't box then how come he has an incredible pro record, won an Olympic medal, and is a world champion? Seems pretty obvious you have to have some boxing skills for that. Only a freaking idiot would try to claim he has no boxing skills.

[Prince Madison]

watch the spzlkia fight and then tell me its a myth. we arent talking about some world level fighter outboxing him there, we are talking about a complete bum level guy giving wilder fits

[boliodogs]

When everybody sees his fights and most come to the same conclusion that he is often sloppy, wild, leaves himself open and is not a very good boxer then it's not a myth. It's the general opinion. What you see is what you get. Wilder is fast with a long reach. He has a good jab and great punching power. He is not a skillful boxer. If didn't have his reach and punching power he would be a very average fighter.