WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder(39-0, 38 KOs) has big-time power. While the competition he has fought is considered weak, he has knocked out 38 of his 39 opponents.
Wilder, who will be fighting Luis Ortiz on March 3 at Barclays Center, believes he could beat any fighter including the great Mike Tyson:
“Man, look, I just gotta keep it real, and I always keep it real,” Wilder told TMZ Sports. “I know people always go back to the old-school, new-school, and stuff like that, but there’s no old-school or new school fighter that could beat Deontay Wilder. I’ll knock them all out.”
Former World Champion Lennox Lewis gave his thoughts on the matter:
I just heard @BronzeBomber said he would destroy a young @MikeTyson. My thoughts are that it’s easy to talk until u actually get in the ring. I like Wilder but he’s never been in there with someone that ferocious who truly wants to break his ribs with every punch. I don’t see it!
— Lennox Lewis, CBE, CM (@LennoxLewis) January 27, 2018
History will decide your place among the all time greats… so go out there, clean up the division, defend your title, reign supreme and your work will speak for itself.
— Lennox Lewis, CBE, CM (@LennoxLewis) January 27, 2018
My best advice to the entire crop of young heavyweight champs is to focus on being the best of YOUR era! Out of respect and reality. It’s unprovable. Of course ppl asked, but I found no need to speculate or compare myself to my idol Ali or any other of the past greats.
— Lennox Lewis, CBE, CM (@LennoxLewis) January 27, 2018
Unfortunately, we will never know if Wilder could beat Tyson or any heavyweight from the past.
Both fighters have tremendous power, and both fighters chins are questionable.
While Tyson might be considered slightly overrated, by some, we genuinely don’t know who Wilder is at this stage of his career.
How about this: let’s table this conversation until sometime later this year.
Photo: Amanda Wescott/Showtime