Deontay Wilder‘s power is unquestionable.
The slim heavyweight has 42 knockouts from 43 wins, the only fight going to a decision being against Bermaine Stiverne before Wilder scored the stoppage in their rematch.
His record and highlight reel of one hitter quitters has led many to back him as the most devastating puncher the sport has ever seen.
In a resurfaced interview by TMZ Sports after Wilder’s second stoppage over Cuba’s Luis Ortiz, thudding puncher and the oldest ever heavyweight world champion, George Foreman, was asked if he was the hardest hitter in the history of boxing. He was clear in his response.
“He’s good, but he hasn’t approached Joe Louis, Joe Frazier, Mike Tyson, he hasn’t approached that kind of recognition yet – no way.
“For me, he has to have a performance like Mike Tyson did against Trevor Berbick. I was down visiting Vegas when I saw that and I thought, “This guy is a nightmare!” When he gets a Tyson type knockout of Berbick I’ll put him up high but, right now, nah!
“I wouldn’t want to be the person testing between those two, but Tyson could hit man.
“Wilder is a good fighter, but he’s not in the picture for the greatest ever.”
Perhaps too modest to put himself in the conversation, most would say Foreman is also a man to beat when it comes to packing a punch.
Wilder’s career, like many of his opponents have been over the years, is currently on the ropes. Following back-to-back defeats to Joseph Parker (PTS) and Zhilei Zhang (TKO), the former WBC Champion is facing questions of retirement. Those have come around not just because of the losses, but rather the way in which lost – being uncharacteristically shy with the infamous right hand that Foreman has praise for.
Regardless of what anyone else in the sport says, it appears the 38-year-old from Tuscaloosa, Alabama will fight on, as announced by his trainer Malik Scott. When confirming that was the case, Scott used the example of ‘Big’ George, who returned to the heavyweight division after a decade out and was still firing at the age of 45.
