Wilder got beat up by the better man, but don't overlook his historic reign.

[UNBANNED]

Tyson Fury is the undefeated WBC, Ring Magazine and Lineal heavyweight champion of the world and deserves all of the kudos he's receiving. He will be the betting favorite in the rematch and deservedly so.

Deontay Wilder's historic 5 year reign is over and rather than praising Fury, many have been more focused on minimizing Wilder's accomplishments.

We should encourage the best to fight the best and when one of them loses, we shouldn't erase or disregard what they achieved.

Wilder didn't pick up his first pair of gloves until adulthood. He had next to no amateur background before going pro. He worked his way into the mandatory position. He didn't fight for a vacant title. He fought the WBC world heavyweight champion at a time when they were rated #2 in the world by Ring Magazine.

In his first big test, against Ring Magazine's #2 heavyweight in the world, Wilder passed with flying colors. Boxing his way to a dominant unanimous decision to become the 23rd man in history to win the WBC world heavyweight championship. Joining the likes of Sonny Liston, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Riddick Bowe, Lennox Lewis and countless others.

His reign lasted over 5 years. 10 successful defenses, tied with Muhammad Ali's second reign. Ali only reached 9 defenses in his first reign, as did Tyson and Lewis in their first reigns, and Vitali Klitscho in his second reign. Only Larry Holmes has more defenses, with 16.

During Wilder's reign, he was dogged by naysayers (mainly from the UK). Claims he hadn't faced any top fighters. Despite reaching #1 in the Boxrec computers during his reign. Despite winning the title from Ring Magazine's #2 heavyweight and holding two knockout wins over Ring Magazine's current #4 heavyweight. He's now agreed to fight the world's best heavyweight, Tyson Fury, for the third time. Taking on big challenges over and over, whether he falls short or not.

So you don't have to love him, or even like him, but he deserves respect. He started with nothing and just made over $50 million in the last three months. His 5+ year title reign will stand out in the history books for generations to come.

That was a historic reign.

He dominated every cab driver and road sweeper from Alabama to Mexico.

Stunning

[Robbie Barrett]

historical reign.

He'll join bute, ottke and guys like that with this historic reign.

Wilder is on track to make over $100 million in a 14 month period and sell 2 million PPVs in an 8 month period. Wilder is tied with Muhammad Ali for the second most successful WBC World Heavyweight Championship reign in history. Wilder has been one of the most dominant topics in the history of this site.

You really think Bute and Ottke are fair comparisons for what Wilder has achieved?

Sven Ottke has 10 thousand instagram followers. 30 thousand for Bute.

Wilder is at almost 3 million now.

I think even Bute and Ottke defended their titles against more than 1 top 10 rated fighter. Stop bringing them down to Wilders level.

[Robbie Barrett]

He reached #1 in boxrec during his reign. So is it possible you're just a hater and he actually fought better competition than you're giving him credit for?

He was #1 for all of two weeks.

[Pigeons]

Anyone throwing shade at Wilder is a hater that doesn't deserve any attention.

Wilder had 12 WBC title fights. Half of them (6) came against Fury (2x) - the best heavyweight since W. Klitschko, Ortiz (2x) - the heavyweight division's boogeyman, consensus top-five heavyweight, and Stiverne (2x) - was inactive for the rematch but was a top-five heavyweight for their first fight. Now if you don't like rematches, fine, but that is an impressive list.

His 6 other WBC title fights came against Molina, Duhaupas, Szpilka, Arreola, Washington, and Breazeale. Molina and Duhaupas briefly entered the TBRB top ten at heavyweight post-Wilder after stopping Adamek and Helenius, respectively. Breazeale also hovered around the top ten before their fight. Plus Joshua fought Molina and Breazeale too during his first reign. So these guys were contenders.

So that really leaves only 3 unworthy opponents, Szpilka, Arreola (shot), and Washington.

[KillaMane26]

The fact that Joshua can have skills while starting late makes the late age excuse BS don't you think?

No its makes it more admirable fool... Boxing is a hard sport with guys starting since kids coming from boxing families.

Anyone who can start late and have any success with skill or lack of should be respected.

[Robbie Barrett]

No its makes it more admirable fool... Boxing is a hard sport with guys starting since kids coming from boxing families.

Anyone who can start late and have any success with skill or lack of should be respected.

He's been boxing for 15 years and he still has terrible fundamental skills. That deserves ridicule not praise.

[Robbie Barrett]

In the last two years, Wilder defended against Fury twice AND Ortiz twice. The current kingpin & #4 contender of the division. What heavyweight the last two years took on tougher challenges than that?

Ortiz wasn't rated for the first fight.

Wilder lost both Fury fights.

So he defended against 1 top 10 fighter in his entire reign.

[Robbie Barrett]

Name another fighter to reach #1, even for just one week, that didn't fight any notable fighters? It's impossible. So clearly you're lying.

Isn't that why people are calling him an overrated hype job? Because he was rated higher than he should have been.

[UNBANNED]

He reached #1 in boxrec during his reign. So is it possible you're just a hater and he actually fought better competition than you're giving him credit for?

No, it's literally not possible.

Wilder, like Fury, are not ATG fighters. They're both fun and great for this era. Fury squeaked by a 42 year old Klitschko in a boring decision and Wilder ducked that same Klitschko.

Fury has 2 good wins when hes not punching himself in the mouth and that's Klitschko and Wilder.

Wilder has 2 decent wins over Ortiz - whose also a nobody HW. After that...literal part-time boxer opponents.

In order for Fury to attain ATG status hes got to win definitively against Wilder in 3rd fight (if Deontay exercises - and he will), beat Joshua, beat Usyk, beat Ruiz, beat Parker.

Fury is like Wilder tho and likes his Wallins and other cabby opponents. Neither will even scratch the surface of ATG, sadly. They're both fun/funny tho so enjoy the ride

[Toffee]

Anyone throwing shade at Wilder is a hater that doesn't deserve any attention.

Wilder had 12 WBC title fights. Half of them (6) came against Fury (2x) - the best heavyweight since W. Klitschko, Ortiz (2x) - the heavyweight division's boogeyman, consensus top-five heavyweight, and Stiverne (2x) - was inactive for the rematch but was a top-five heavyweight for their first fight. Now if you don't like rematches, fine, but that is an impressive list.

I don't get how fighting, and losing to, Fury elevates his standing. He got a gift draw in one against a returning Fury and got walloped all around the ring in the other.

Then we've got four fights against two unimpressive names.

It's only Fury that makes it an impressive list and he got embarrassed both times, in two different ways.

His career highlight is an undeserved draw against a returning Fury.

That's not an historic reign. Credit where is due, it's an absolute masterclass in manufacturing a black American champion. That's all it was ever about.