George Foreman feels Deontay Wilder needs to do more!
WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder is no doubt one of if not the hardest puncher in boxing today. His power has been a hot topic since his November 23 one punch knockout win over Luis Ortiz n their rematch.
Wilder has knocked out every single person he’s faced except former unified champion Tyson Fury. He’ll get a chance to rectify that when he faces him in another rematch February 22.
There’s a deep history of power punching heavyweights that are still talked about to this day. Legends Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Joe Louis, Earnie Shavers and Mike Tyson just to name a few.
If we’re being honest there’s really no debate when it comes to Wilder’s rightful place amongst the top five or ten hardest heavyweight punchers of all time. What is still highly debatable is whether he’s yet an all time great heavyweight!
At this time I’d say no. Although there’s no need to panic as he has plenty of time to get there. He must, however, fight a plethora of top contenders and/or fellow champions and win to reach that level.
One of the greatest heavyweights of all time, the oldest heavyweight to win a title and second oldest champion in boxing history, George Foreman recently gave his assessment of Wilder and what he needs to do reach that all time great status.
He told TMZ Sports:
“He’s good but he hasn’t approached Joe Louis, Joe Frazier or Mike Tyson. No, he hasn’t approached that kind of recognition yet. No way.
“For me, he has to have a performance like Mike Tyson did over Trevor Berbick. Boy, when I saw that, I was down visiting Vegas, and I thought, ‘This guy is a nightmare!
“I think the Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury rematch would be one of the greatest of all time. Not just today, but of all time.
“If I see that fight, I would say Deontay Wilder has moved up in status and whoever wins the fight will probably be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time.”
Wilder will definitely need to defeat Fury and not just squeeze by, he needs to win convincingly. Ten title defenses is great but he needs wins over the names that matter!
That starts on February 22.
By: Jerrell Fletcher
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