By James Slater: It’s fair to say 25-year-old “Bronze Bomber” Deontay Wilder has been matched safely since turning pro. After being the only U.S boxer to capture a medal at the Beijing Olympics (a bronze, hence the nickname) the gifted fighter has romped to a largely easy-looking 16-0(16). Not yet having been taken past the 4th-round, Wilder has beaten just six guys who had a winning record when they entered the ring with him.
Veteran Harold Sconiers aside, no-one has remotely tested Wilder (Sconiers scored a knockdown before being TKO’d in the 4th back in October of last year), and this trend looks set to continue in the former Olympian’s next bout. Set to face 39-year-old “Dangerous” Damon Reed in his home town of Tuscaloosa, Alabama this Saturday night, Wilder is sure to win again.
Reed, 46-15(32) does represent at least something of a step up for Wilder, yet he has been stopped eight times in his 15 losses. And, truth be told, Reed looked far from dangerous in his last fight, when he was shut-out over ten-rounds by a 257-pound version of James “Lights Out” Toney. At least Reed took Toney the distance, and he may survive into the later rounds with Wilder – but will Deontay learn anything from this fight? Has he really learnt anything from any of his pro fights so far; the up-from-a-knockdown win over Sconiers aside?
Reed, a former cruiserweight, has been beaten every time he has stepped up against a name heavyweight – with Monte Barrett, Roman Greenberg, Hasim Rahman and Toney defeating him in more recent months. Reed does have way more experience than Wilder, having been a pro since way back in 1995; but does he have any real ambition left today?
As gifted as he is, it’s tough to have any idea how good Wilder is or how far he can go. Time is on the 25-year-old’s side, but it must be noted how a number of British heavyweights, of a similar age or younger, have been matched with risky opponents after having had a lesser amount of fights than Wilder has.
At least Wilder – who at 6’7” and approx 220-pounds seems to have the physical credentials to be able to mix with the big guys – has been keeping active. He picked up six wins last year, and Saturday’s bout will be his third of this year so far. It is to be hoped the upping of the level WILL take place very soon, though.
Fans want to get excited about Wilder, but they cannot truly do so until he starts stepping in with some decent, recognizable names. Okay, Wilder has been a pro for less than three years, but shouldn’t he be making his move soon?