DEONTAY WILDER has risen to the top of boxing’s heavyweight division – but Tyson Fury can be his BIGGEST threat.
The division is getting back where it belongs – at the top of an exciting boxing world.
Wilder currently leads the charge after demolishing Bermane Stiverne in devastating fashion.
He threw down the gauntlet to Britain’s Anthony Joshua who the previous Saturday disappointed in a premature stoppage win over 12-day substitute Carlos Takam.
Although he was comfortably ahead on points, Joshua failed to impress.
Both challengers were undeserving of their world title opportunities truth be told.
Stiverne hadn’t boxed in two years, but had managed to hand big punching Wilder his only distance win in January 2015.
However it was the manner of Wilder’s win this time that impressed.
PARK IT UP Anthony Joshua is having talks to fight THIS man
Weighing under 16 stone, the 32-year-old looked quick and athletic as he landed his trademark booming long right hand to floor Stiverne heavily.
The out-of-his-depth challenger got to his feet apprehensively only to have a ferocious follow up combination send him to the canvas once more.
Most Read In Boxing
The end was inevitable with Wilder finishing the job in spectacular fashion to take his winning record to a highly impressive 39 wins losses 38 by way of knockout.
So what is next for Wilder and Joshua?
Surely the obvious answer is a massive heavyweight unification fight in the spring next year in a huge stadium in the US or the UK.
This would be a massive sporting extravaganza between two undefeated heavyweight giants.
Unfortunately one suspects Wilder may well have just shot himself in the foot with such a dominate destructive performance and may well be offered well below his worth by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom stable.
This could be an attempt to buy Joshua more valuable experience which following the Takam outing he may well indeed need.
An alternative route for both men may well be down under in Auckland New Zealand to fight WBO champion Joseph Parker who recently travelled to the UK to defeat Hughie Fury in September in an unexciting mauling affair.
Parker is better than that performance however and at just 25 years of age, has a credible undefeated record with 24 wins and 18 knockouts.
Parker may well not be a marquee name yet but his WBO belt and his undefeated status is an obvious attraction.
He is young, brave, improving and has a good engine so is a valuable piece of the heavyweight jigsaw making a fight with Wilder or Joshua a serious consideration.
The big news and the big threat in the division is the fascinating prospect of Tyson Fury re-joining the heavyweight ranks and handed a career lifeline in the New Year.
Thankfully it looks like sense will prevail and the likeable fighting man from a fighting family will be back in the sport he loves and the discipline it provides.
Fury’s future is soon to be back in his massive hands with hopefully some valuable lessons learned he can now let his boxing do the talking.
The time is right for a Fury comeback as the heavyweight division needs the larger than life character, his tongue in cheek wit and the entertainment he brings.
Wilder, Joshua, Parker and Fury are all talented powerful young and undefeated heavyweight powerhouses with 108 wins between them, no defeats and 94 KOs.
So 2018 is promising to be a bumper blockbuster of a year in the heavyweight division.
But as it stands as we close out 2017 the “Bronze Bomber” Wilder is the man to beat.
Leave a comment