Deontay Wilder, the Bronze Bomber, former WBC heavyweight champion, is the owner of some of the most potent one punch knockout power in boxing history. A 6’7 220 lb man Deontay Wilder has registered a knockdown against every man he stepped in the ring with. Could he boast the same in the golden era of heavyweight boxing? Can the basketball player turned Olympic bronze medalist turned heavyweight juggernaut wreak havoc on the greats? Let’s find out.
Vs. Joe Frazier: Deontay Wilder is not refined technician. He either wins quickly or loses until that hydrogen bomb he calls a right hand connects. See the attempted murder of Artur Szpilka. Wilder’s defensive movement is to flail his arms upwards in the face of punches.. When advancing, Wilder launches the Jan and straight right combo. He looks like an archer, measuring with his bow, when unleashing the right. But, Wilder doesn’t really aim. He just throws his bomb until it erases the problem. See Gerald Washington. Joe Frazier would dip and dodge most of Wilder’s offense. While consistently landing his own patented left hook. Frazier would dominate up to the last round. Then Wilder would land his shot and claim victory. Frazier’s movement is bending over to avoid punches. If you see Deontay Wilder vs Artur Szpilka Wilder was able to get the come from behind win because he keyed in to Szpilka’s head movement. It didn’t help that Szpilka leapt into the air, abandoning all defense. That being said, inclination and knowledge coupled with the ability to knock someone dead with a single shot enough to give Wilder the nod.
Wilder by late knockout, while trailing on the cards.
Vs. George Foreman: George Foreman was an advancing power puncher and the most feared man of his day. Wilder is primarily a fighter that hangs back and let’s the fight come to him. He catches opponents coming in with single powerful attacks. See Robert Helenius vs Deontay Wilder. George Foreman was susceptible to counters from fighters who fought on the back foot such as Muhammad Ali, Ron Lyle, and Jimmy Young. Deontay Wilder suffers against fighter who can successfully pressure him with power shots. That’s how Tyson Fury was able to secure two stoppage wins against him. With these weaknesses against each other’s style, the winner is George Foreman. Both men have been knocked down before but only Foreman has shown he can survive.
Foreman wins a knockdown heavy affair with a mid fight stoppage.
Vs. Muhammad Ali: Muhammad Ali has never been made to stay down for a count of 10. His lone stoppage loss came against Larry Holmes, with Ali coming out of retirement and battling Parkinson’s disease. He could still move, but primarily would want fighters to attack him. Wilder would be forced to take the initiative, opening himself up to counters against his bolo punches. Wilder would eat counters for the entire bout, until tiring out and being stopped by a flurry late in the fight. This fight would be a duplicate of Ali vs Foreman.
Vs. Leon Spinks: With a 26-17-3 record, Leon Spinks was not a powerful or great fighters. His 14 ko wins come from his strategy of moving forward and working more. His rudimentary style led him to beat Muhammad Ali and lose to him. Deontay Wilder is great with pressure from smaller, less talented fighters. He sniped both Robert Helenius and Artur Szpilka.
Deontay Wilder wins via first round knockout.
Vs. Ken Norton: Ken Norton had a notorious fear of power punchers, thanks to George Foreman. The reputation of a puncher could halt Norton from being offensive. While that worked against him with George Foreman, it would stretch the fight with Wilder This fight would be uneventful for the early portion. Wilder would throw bombs, which would be deflected by Kenny’s cross arm defense. Kenny would dip in and out of range, chipping away at Wilder and picking up rounds where few meaningful punches land. A desperate Wilder would time Norton on the entry late in the fight. Once stung, Norton would be defense oriented. Norton’s defense when he is hurt, is to avoid contact.. Wilder would land more frequently, stopping Norton on the ropes. Earnie Shavers and George Foreman were able to bully Norton after hurting him. Later, Gerry Cooney would do so.
Deontay Wilder knocks Kenny Norton out very late.
Vs. Larry Holmes: Larry Holmes was a sniper with the jab and straight right. He mastered distance and ring positioning. Deontay Wilder is often tripped by his own feet in moving. Wilder would trouble Holmes with power as Earnie Shavers was able to do. This fight would come down to defensive lapses. Larry Holmes would be the aggressor and win virtually every round. He is fleet footed enough to dodge Wilder’s , well…wild, offerings and land. Wilder would eventually score a knockdown as he times Holmes coming in. Holmes would get up and guide Wilder to a corner and finish him with straight punches. Wilder’s defense when being attacked in the manner is to throw his head back and flail his upwards. With nowhere to retreat, Wilder eats punches until the referee comes in. Wilder’s four inch reach and power would keep him in the fight, but this plays out like Holmes vs Cooney.
Larry Holmes wins via technical knockout in the final round.
Deontay Wilder would roll over anyone he could bully or catch. There isn’t much to say of his style, mostly because there isn’t one. But when you know that you can kill anyone with one punch, why do anything differently. Wilder’s underrated sense of timing and otherworldly powers of destruction that brought him 42 knockouts from 43 wins ( Bermaine Stiverne was knocked out in the rematch), would carry him overage average fighters and some champions. But speed and power have shown to best him. Wilder would be on the verge of losing every time. But that equalizer of a right hand punches his way to title in the Golden era.
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