Deontay Wilder proved he had more surprises up his sleeve.
More tricks up his sleeve in a good way so far this year. Wilder is a much more calm, focused but still the same old Deontay Wilder he always was. A more lethal fighter in our view than ever.
He has rested many physical injuries in recent years now and won’t have a trainer issue ahead of his fight with Derek Chisora next up in early April.
The big surprise however was how well received Deontay Wilder was in the UK compared to hometown fighter Derek Chisora was.
Chisora is from London in England but it was former WBC heavyweight champion from Alabama who was more popular with UK and London fans than Chisora.
Young people here from England giving Londoner Chisora and his team the cold shoulder and instead opting to ask American Deontay Wilder for selfies and pictures with them.
Advantage Wilder.
Wilder also surprised Chisora with his cool, calm and collected approach in their press conference that proceeded.
Despite heavy words exchanged when the fight was announced, Chisora seemed more interested in trying to be Wilder’s friend when they sat down in London.
When the reality of his 50th and final professional fight dawned on him will be up against a well rested, physically finally injury free, biggest puncher of all time Deontay Wilder.
Wilder didn’t play into this too much and you could tell he was holding himself back. Surprising and showed the growth in Wilder’s professional hitman-like mindset for the professional boxing business.
Styles make fights and Wilder has a big reach advantage over Chisora, and is a counter puncher more often than not.
So Chisora coming forward should suit Wilder’s style of counter punching when he uses it.
Class act Wilder.
But a real killer in the fight game.
As it should be.
Afterwards Chisora claimed he will retire Wilder.
Time will tell.
