When it comes to the top KO artist in boxing, Deontay Wilder believes he is in a category all his own.
In a recent interview with the media ahead of his Dec. 23 fight against Joseph Parker in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Wilder was asked to name the “most prolific KO artist” in boxing besides himself.
“It’s only one,” Wilder said. “I say that because, men lie, women lie, but numbers don’t lie. You tell me who else got the numbers that I have? Then we’’ll put em in the category. Other than that, I don’t have anyone else who [comes to my mind].” The reporter was prepared to move on to the next question, but Wilder had more to add to support his claim, and it’s hard to argue with his perspective.
“I’d like to add to that,” Wilder added. “Not only does no one have the numbers that I have, every guy I’ve faced, I’ve knocked out or put on the canvas. Look at the weight. I always fight guys 20, 30 or 50 pounds heavier than me. I still get the job done. What other fighter you know? I can’t think of any. A lot of the guys in the smaller weight classes, they complain about fighting guys two pounds heavier. Here I am fighting guys 50 pounds heavier.”
You can see the entire segment in the video below. The question and answer referenced is at the 13:30 mark.
Often, heavyweights are cheated out of positions on pound-for-pound rankings. They are overlooked because they can’t move up, and it isn’t realistic for them to move down to a smaller weight class.
Many boxers’ value is at least partially based on their accomplishments in multiple weight classes. Natural heavyweights are mostly shut out of that space.
Therefore, when quantifying punching power and mythical titles like top KO artists, a thinner heavyweight like Wilder deserves additional love for his ability to consistently drop and stop opponents who outweigh him by as much as 50 pounds.
In Wilder’s career, he has amassed a 43-2-1 record with an astonishing 42 wins by knockout. Wilder has never weighed more than 238 pounds for a fight despite standing 6-foot-7 inches tall. His opponents have been as heavy as 352 pounds (Richard Greene Jr in March 2009) and 277 pounds (Tyson Fury in October 2021). Wilder dropped Fury twice before being stopped late in that 2021 clash.
While gaining a definitive answer to this question is impossible, Wilder makes some strong points that he can further support with another KO finish on Saturday night in Riyadh.
If Wilder defeats Parker and Anthony Joshua beats Otto Wallin on the same night, the two men are all but confirmed to meet later in the year in an epic heavyweight clash in Saudi Arabia.
With tons on the line, Joshua and Wilder will be at the center of the combat sports universe on Christmas weekend.
Read the full article here
