Three Takeaways From Deontay Wilder’s Obliteration of Dominic Breazeale
The fight went about how we expected. It took Deontay Wilder (41-0-1 40 KOs) less than three minutes to dispatch Dominic Breazeale (20-2-0 18 KOs). The comparisons have started already, as it took Anthony Joshua 7 rounds to get rid of Breazeale.
But we can talk more about comparing those two later. Joshua fights in two weeks and we’ll be able to spend the next 3 months debating who would beat who until they both announce they are fighting their manditories.
Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder are the Top 2 in the Heavyweight Divison
I’ll start by saying, I think Fury edged Wilder in their December 1, 2018 matchup. But I will also say that the fight is much closer than most Fury fans want to admit. Two knockdowns, in rounds you may have been winning, can absolutely stunt a fight for a boxer.
Past that, the fight was such a great blend of Fury’s style vs Wilder’s power vs Fury’s toughness vs Wilder’s resolve. The best of both men was on display that night and it made for some high class drama.
Last night just showed everyone that even though Breazeale belongs in the ring with Joshua, he doesn’t belong with Wilder. Joshua is a unified champion and he can wait until Wilder retires to collect the green belt. But Joshua’s refusal to take on dangerous fights (a la Tyson Fury, Luis Ortiz, Deontay Wilder) has to put him squarely at #3 in the heavyweight pecking order.
I do hope we get the Fury / Wilder rematch. But until then, I’m sure who is going to beat either of these guys. Sorry Dillian Whyte.
Wilder is a Much Better Fighter Than Fans Want To Admit
It wasn’t that he beat Breazeale, we expected that. It wasn’t how fast it happened, we probably expected that too. It wasn’t even how much power Wilder really has, because we KNOW that. It was the beautiful instincts he displayed leading up to the knockout punch.
If you rewind 5 seconds before the punch, watch Wilder casually stroll in with his hands down. The next sequence has already played out in his head and he knows what’s coming, even if Breazeale doesn’t. Why?
Breazeale showed a tendency to drop his left hand when throwing his lead left hook. Wilder saw it and as soon as Breazeale dropped that left again the night was over.
There are better boxers in the division; Ortiz, Fury, maybe even Joshua. But heavyweight isn’t always about the best boxers. One punch is often the difference at the top and Wilder picked his spot to land his best. You can’t teach that kind of instinct.
There isn’t a Right Handed Fighter in the World Who Can Beat Wilder Right Now
The one preface here is Tyson Fury, who can fight southpaw and utilized it against Wilder in their December 1st match up. Wilder’s best rounds came when Fury fought Orthodox.
Fury also has amazing head movement for a guy his size that really kept Wilder off balance most of that fight. But Fury is one of the most mobile heavyweights in years. The rest of the division has stood in front of Wilder and hoped.
Right handed fighters have too many holes for Wilder to exploit easily. I maintain Wilder’s best weapon is his lead left jab which finds a home against fighters who keep their right hand low and can’t move like Fury. That jab opens up the right which is Wilder’s glamour weapon.
Last night, Breazeale didn’t even both to force Wilder to use the jab. He just opened up his left for Wilder. And that’s why we all got to get some sleep last night.
Side Note
Mauro Ranallo is so criminally underrated as an announcer. “Wilder hit Breazeale so hard they are feeling it in Brazil,” is now my favorite boxing call, taking over “He is Ragnorocking Stiverne.” Momma mia.
