Plus, AJ will fight Ngannou, Vergil Ortiz wins in Las Vegas and more
This post originally appeared on Substack by Steve Wellings.
We sat there waiting for him to land the same big hit he always has. And we wait… and we wait a little more. Never arrived. The Deontay Wilder of yesteryear is gone. No more windmill endings or frantic outbursts of anger. A tame and predictable clone has been unleashed, and it wasn’t pretty to watch. In fact, it was quite sad.
Congratulations to the winner. Joseph Parker’s deceptively sneaky jab took away Wilder’s intimidation and ability to deliver powerful punches. The unattractive New Zealander had a better game plan and commendable physical condition. Any gaps Wilder left were mercilessly exposed as Parker gained confidence.
The passive Wilder was indulging in toad medicine in preparation
Wilder’s heavyweight hunger is considered by some to have disappeared. Any semblance of athletic ability dissolved. All that remains are thin, wobbly legs and a rake-shaped structure. Understandably, the fight with Fury sapped his resolve and sapped his spirit. The 38-year-old has lost that aggressiveness.
The “body on the record” gimmick has been replaced by a comfortable, family-oriented perspective. The calm advice of veteran Mark Breland was replaced by the even calmer non-advice of a passive Malik Scott and the ever-present Jay Deas. Neither of them could inspire him.
Assuming the ‘Bronze Bomber’ continues fighting and reactivates his wish, a few possible options await him…
Joe Joyce – For years we wondered what would happen if the ultimate nuclear bomb hit an immovable object. That intrigue has since faded now that Joyce has been forcibly transferred (twice) and Wilder’s nukes have rusted away. It doesn’t seem that fun.
Andy Ruiz Jr – The lesser-seen Ruiz has been dining out during Joshua’s victory, literally and figuratively, ever since. Last year there was talk of a fight with Wilder on PBC. It never materialized. Ruiz has spent his time indulging in every vice possible and feeling the ferocity of his wife amid a torrent of accusations. The fight between Wilder and Ruiz is still a great American clash, should they try to pull it off.
Anthony Joshua – This fight seems further away than ever now that Wilder lost and Joshua went on to clash with Francis Ngannou. Never say never, this is boxing after all. Expect to see a couple of gray-haired opportunists taking shots at each other in 15 years. Before that, forget it. Eddie has had enough opportunities to make it happen.
Dreamland: a clash between Wilder and Joshua seems further away than ever
Zhilei Zhang – A surprising and increasingly likely move. ‘Big Bang’ is a speedy, heavy-handed lefty for a sizable unit. However, it pumps gas late. Showing a reasonable beard, if Zhang can withstand the surges of power, he could catch Wilder with strength and weight. Conversely, an impressive display from Deontay and suddenly he’s back in the mix. Very interesting pairing.
Joseph Parker 2 – A Chance at Redemption, Anyone? Not precisely. Parker soundly outperformed an apathetic Wilder and will be looking for a big payday. Wilder needs a takedown or an opponent who can take him for a few rounds (who he can actually beat at the end of those rounds). There is no need for a comeback between these two.
Retirement: A rogue number six to add to the mix. Can Wilder hang up his gloves? It seems unlikely, as there are still several options on the table, given his name, height and previous currency in the bank. The Alabama banger won’t want to come off like the meek figure we witnessed in Saudi Arabia.
boxing summary
Vergil Ortiz returns with KO + Ohara’s world title misfortune
Vergil Ortiz made a welcome return to the ring in Las Vegas, knocking down Fredrick Lawson in a single round. Well, he certainly was on top before trigger-happy referee Tony Weeks stepped in and stopped the fight prematurely.
Ortiz looked extremely comfortable boxing almost in his new weight class. A fit and shoot version is best for boxing. He later called out Tim Tszyu, which would be an incredible fight. The third man, Weeks, has previous form with competitors on this card, namely a surprised Venezuelan king who appeared in the main support…
Safety First: Tony Weeks Allegedly Travels Through Life in a Hazmat Suit
Entering the ring to the song The Final Countdown, it could well be the final count at this level for Ohara Davies, who was one win away from a world title shot before Ismael Barroso brutally altered her plans.
Fighting aggressively, Davies was caught on the way out by a left hand that caused chaos to his senses. Unable to recover, Ohara’s dream was shattered seconds later in the first round.
Making his Golden Boy debut after a period of growing frustration under Top Rank, Arnold Barbosa Jr knocked down Xoliseni Ndongeni after the eighth round. After a consultation from the doctor and the referee, the South African corner agreed that it was time to put an end to the situation.
Enjoying a steady and uneventful start, the tide turned as Barbosa found range for the body shots and right hook. The winner later called out Teófimo López and Ryan García, dropping a few F-bombs for good measure. DAZN apologized.
Former Olympian Raúl Curiel, a great puncher, broke and stopped the brave Elías Díaz in the eighth round. Diaz’s closed left eye did him no favors as he failed to suspect a right hand that dropped him late in the fifth round. Curiel, trained by Freddie Roach, is talented and needs to stay active.
Great request for Smith against the beastly Beterbiev
Can Callum Smith unseat Artur Beterbiev? It’s a big demand for the big man in Canada on January 13th. Despite Smith’s punching power, he’s been knocking people down a notch or two below the Russian brute.
Age is starting to catch up with Beterbiev, who has suffered many injuries and periods of inactivity since bursting onto the scene. There is hope for Smith, but Artur is a solid favorite to get the job done and take on his rival Dmitry Bivol. Check out our recent brief preview of their fight here…
Can Callum Smith unseat Artur Beterbiev? The winner will face Dmitry Bivol [hopefully]
Anthony Joshua leads the heavyweight charge
Anthony Joshua will return to the ring on March 8 against Francis Ngannou. It’s not an ideal contest, but it makes sense from a promotional perspective. If AJ attacks the UFC fighter and looks impressive in the process, he will take the edge off Tyson Fury, at least in the minds of casual observers. Ngannou has raised his stock and bargaining power endlessly since he entered boxing. Fair play to him.
After defeating Wallin, AJ seeks to steal another advantage from his rival Fury
Joe Goossen’s heavyweight great Gurgen Hovhannisyan recorded a fifth-round knockout on Thursday, January 4 in Washington. The Armenian clearly enjoys his chosen craft and throws quick combinations. Opponent Colby Madison was unable to move away from the left hook and, despite frequently countering, was exhausted and on his knees when the referee intervened.
Media Credits: DAZN News US, Marca, Larry Brown Sports.
About Steve: Seasoned boxing writer, author of 8 books, and podcaster of over 500 episodes. 20 years in sports. He covered hundreds of shows for newspapers and Boxing News magazine. Chief video scriptwriter for the Motivedia and BN+ channel. For inquiries: [email protected].
