Stiverne all over again is the buzz-line!
Deontay Wilder and his team may hand pick opponents all they want as the American makes voluntary defences of his WBC crown but one day down the line he will be forced to fight the mandatory challenger.
After his poor performance last time out, against Molina, several pundits are predicting that when Wilder climbs into the ring to face the mandatory challenger, Alexander Povetkin, the bubble of invincibility created around him will be well and truly burst.
It seems this opinion is formed on the basis that Povetkin has had some good wins recently against the likes of Carlos Takam, Manuel Charr and Mike Perez. However, as others have pointed out, none of those three have the punching power Wilder has, even if the champion does seem to lack the basic boxing skills that he might one day have to turn to.
As for Wilder, the man himself has no qualms about, eventually, getting into the ring with Povetkin, with Dan Rafael commenting,
?It?s Stiverne all over again? for him.?
A comment that seems to indicate that Wilder, just like he did against Bermane Stiverne, will box to a strict plan to negate any threat Povetkin might have but also bearing in mind Povetkin was soundly beaten by a taller fighter when he was defeated by Wladimir Klitschko.
Whether Povetkin has the ability to vary his game-plan and get his punches off quicker when matched against taller guys remains to be seen, but perhaps you should ask yourselves if a leopard really can change its spots!
Wilder?s Camp Not Fazed by Povetkin
