When the topic
of current prospects turned contenders in the Heavyweight division is discussed
and or, debated it is hard not to argue that fighters such as Tyson Fury, David
Price, and Bryant Jennings have been at or near the top of the list. While Fury,
Price, and Jennings have seen much attention shined on them; there is another
hot rising prospect that has gradually been carving his own path through the
Heavyweight division. The prospect’s name?
Deontay Wilder…
Wilder, the 2008
Olympic Bronze medalist has been quietly building one of the more impressive
records you are likely to ever see out of a prospect turned contender. Undefeated in his professional career Wilder
compiled twenty-eight wins from when he turned pro in November of 2008 to April
of this year. What makes Wilder’s record
intimidating for any would be opponent is not one of those twenty-eight
opponents have been able to go the distance with the 6’7 American Heavyweight.
Perhaps more intimidating than Wilder’s consecutive knockout streak is only one
fighter, journeyman Heavyweight Marlon Hayes was able to extend Wilder beyond
three rounds before being stopped in the fourth round of their fight in
February of last year.
When an
undefeated Heavyweight prospect begins his career with a streak of knockouts it
is hard not to remember another Heavyweight who began his career with his own
consecutive knockout streak, Mike Tyson who scored eighteen consecutive
knockouts to begin his career. Tyson’s streak of knockouts created somewhat of
a debate as to how quickly Tyson was moved along up the ranks by his
handlers. Over the years when discussing
this topic this observer has stated that despite debate and criticism of how
Tyson was moved along that it is my opinion that the strategy of Tyson’s
managers Jim Jacobs and Bill Cayton in managing Tyson was brilliant.
Much like
Tyson had to deal with questions regarding his stamina and what happens when a
fight goes into the middle and late rounds, so too does Deontay Wilder. Unlike
Tyson however one could argue that Wilder’s progression has been slower. Tyson after all climbed to the top of the
Heavyweight division and won his first world title in just a year and a half
after turning professional. One could say that Tyson’s rise up the Heavyweight
division although quick and devastating was not necessarily the norm.
As we have
recently seen with the setbacks of David Price who suffered back to back losses
to top contender Tony Thompson in his last two fights it was too much and too
soon. Price had only fought thirteen fights as a professional prior to his two
fights with Tony Thompson. Although it
can be a delicate task in determining when a fighter should move along and step
up in the quality of opposition for a fighter’s management and promoter, this
observer believes that in light of what has happened with David Price that it
was probably a smart move by those who handle Deontay Wilder to progress him at
a slower but steady rate.
After seeing
Wilder’s knockout win over former world title challenger Audley Harrison, I
began to wonder who Wilder would be put in against for his next fight and,
whether or not that fighter would be able to extend Wilder deep into a
fight. The opponent that Wilder would face would be former WBO
Heavyweight world champion Sergei Liakhovich.
This to me was
an interesting choice of opponent for Wilder. Despite Liahovich coming into
this fight having lost his last two fights, suffering knockout losses to
contenders Robert Helenius and Bryant Jennings, Liakhovich was after all a former
world champion. Although Liakhovich frankly suffered two brutal beatings at the
hands of Helenius and Jennings, he was not a fighter to take lightly.
It was also an
arguable point that Liakhovich was a fighter who was in decline. Liakhovich
however had been able to take fights into the middle and late rounds. Going into the fight I wondered whether or
not Liakhovich would be able to withstand Wilder’s punching power and whether
or not he could take this fight beyond the early rounds.
When the two
fighters entered the ring on August 9th in Indio, California the
fight came to a sudden and frankly scary end midway through the first round. Wilder floored Liakhovich with a right hand
that knocking the former world champion down on the canvas. Referee Tom Taylor
immediately stopped the fight as Liakhovich was convulsing. Wilder had scored his twenty-ninth
consecutive knockout at 1:43 of the first round.
For Deontay
Wilder the questions continues to be who can withstand his punching power and
who may be able to extend Wilder into the middle and late rounds of a
fight? No one knows who might be able to
answer that question however in terms of the immediate future perhaps Wilder
could be a future opponent for Heavyweight contender and former world title
challenger Dereck Chisora.
Chisora, who
recently scored a somewhat controversial knockout over previously undefeated
contender Malik Scott could view a potential fight with Wilder as a way to
springboard back into the Heavyweight championship picture. Malik Scott who filed a protest with the
British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) following his loss to Chisora in an
effort to have his knockout loss changed to a no contest should also be viewed
as a possibility for Wilder.
Last week the
BBBofC denied Scott’s protest. It remains to be seen if this will lead to a
rematch between Chisora and Scott. One should not however overlook the
possibility of a fighter like Deontay Wilder being figured into the plans for
either fighter.
Although
Wilder’s knockout of Sergei Liakhovich is likely to be talked about for some
time, Referee Tom Taylor should be applauded for stopping the fight immediately
and not counting. It was a scary
knockout and although Liakhovich was able to sit on his stool shortly after the
fight was stopped, it should not be overlooked that the appropriate call was
made immediately and that the fighter’s safety was the top priority as it
should be.
For Sergei Liakhovich
this would appear to be a career ending knockout. As the safety standards in the sport of
Boxing have greatly improved over the years, it would be logical to see perhaps
the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) and or, the Association of
Boxing Commissions issue a medical suspension after a fighter has suffered a
knockout like this.
What should
not be overlooked is Liakhovich has now been knocked out in his last three
fights and due to the beatings he has taken not just in those three fights but
throughout his career, the long-term well-being of a fighter should now be
taken into consideration. Sergei
Liakhovich has been a fighter who has always been very “Game” and has always
given everything he has when he enters the ring. It is however the
responsibility of those who regulate the sport worldwide to ensure the safety
of fighters. Although Sergei Liakhovich’s heart cannot be questioned, you never
want to see a fighter take one punch too many.
“And That’s
The Boxing Truth.”
The Boxing
Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.
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Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison
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