Deontay Wilder (right) is hitting a new low with his next fight, this Saturday in St. Louis. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)
Deontay Wilder, the 26-year-old American heavyweight prospect from Alabama, is returning to the ring this Saturday in Missouri on the Maidana vs Alexander undercard, and though he's been protected so far in his pro career, Golden Boy Promotions is taking it to a new low with this matchup.
Wilder (20-0, 20 KO) is facing Marlon Hayes (23-10, 11 KO). Right there the record isn't so bad -- a journeyman, you might be thinking, or a gatekeeper. But that's not the case at all. This is a fight that the Missouri commission shouldn't even be sanctioning, and that Golden Boy should be ashamed of putting together.
Here are the issues:
There is an argument, and I had it on Twitter, that Wilder is still learning on the job. I argue he's not learning much of anything. When a fighter is this badly hidden away, which comes with simultaneous hype, there is a problem, and his matchmakers and handlers know that there's a problem. Wilder has not even taken half a risk thus far, and this is such a bottom of the barrel fight that it defies any logic. What possible good comes from Deontay Wilder beating up a 40-year-old guy who hasn't fought in half a decade and is a foot shorter than him? Other than the ability to say after the fight, "Deontay Wilder is now 21-0 with 21 knockouts! What a prospect!"
He's not really a prospect at this point. He's a club fighter with hype. I'm not saying he'll never be a real prospect, or can't ever be a potential contender, but the only differences between Deontay Wilder and any other guy running up a see-through record are a bronze medal and a power promoter.
0 recs | 19 comments
That is disgusting
Sweet science - February 21, 2012
Yeah this is about as low as it gets. There’s no excuse for a 26 year old “prospect” fighter with 20 fights to be fighting an opponent like this.
Sammlung - February 21, 2012
So this is what happened to Wilder. I actually wondered about this, once in a while.
Since the choice of picture for this article was carefully considered, I think it would make a great fight poster, after a garish false-color rendering.
Maybe we should talk sometime about what’s wrong with boxing …
DrRck - February 21, 2012
Devil's Advocate
Let me first say that I agree with you on this, but this is just to play devil’s advocate.
This journeyman has taken on competition that is at a much much higher level than Wilder. He has taken both Robert Stieglitz and Jaidon Codrington the distance (Only 8 rounds in the Stieglitz fight). His last fight was at Heavyweight, so going to light heavy shouldn’t be too much of a problem. Wilder obviously is not ready for someone like Cloud or Dawson, so this is simply a stay busy fight.
Waldo Rastel - February 21, 2012
Here’s the problem.
Wilder is a heavyweight.
Scott Christ - February 21, 2012
among the many other problems
Like that he went rounds with those guys…half a decade ago or more.
Scott Christ - February 21, 2012
Also, Wilder’s level of competition has been repeatedly absurd. you might want to brush up on your Deontay Wilder, including his weight class, before offering “this is just a stay busy fight” like it’s no biggie.
Scott Christ - February 21, 2012
GBP is servicing us a shit sandwich…
Zocalo - February 21, 2012
they make all the best fights
FOR THE FANS
Scott Christ - February 21, 2012
lol
Olbas - February 21, 2012
I was just giving the other perspective. I didn’t say that it was a sound argument by any stretch of the imagination.
Waldo Rastel - February 21, 2012
Well, he’s not ready for Cloud or Dawson…because they’re two weight classes below him. They’re, like, not remotely in the discussion because it’s not the same weight class. How are you missing this?
Scott Christ - February 21, 2012
Yeah that was my bad on that one. I read light heavyweight incorrectly.
Waldo Rastel - February 21, 2012
One only needs to look at his fight against washed up, Thunderbox vet Harold Sconiers to see why there hesitate to step up his comp level.
Eugene Banks - February 21, 2012
yup
Scott Christ - February 21, 2012
That’s often what’s behind this horrible fights isn’t it. A young fighter takes half a step up and barely knicks it. Then rather putting him in a sink or swim fight, they just string his career along for years against hapless, no-hopers. Boxing gotttaaaa love it!
Sammlung - February 21, 2012
Will that fit on Twitter? It’s brilliant. :D
Olbas - February 21, 2012
Shawn estrada can make the heavyweight limit if Hayes drops out
moidadabum - February 21, 2012
as in all these kinds of situations, we hope marlon hayes lands his patented hayemaker
nickfoxx - February 21, 2012
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