wes what is funning is the commentators for show time try to hype deontay up like he is the hardest hitting hw that ever lived which is pure shit. george foreman probably was, vitaly klit was a killer to and lewis would have murdered him, if this piece of shit fought in the 90's which had quite a few very good hws , he would have been lucky to have cracked the top 10, i cannot see him beating
holmes
lewis
bowe
mercer
holyfield
vitali kilitscho
michael dokes
razor ruddock
mike tyson-well maybe in all fairness tyson quit in every fight that was tough. and i was a huge tyson fan.
prime formean would have taken his head off and piss in his mouth
I don't understand what seems to be personal animus towards Wilder. Certainly he's not the 2nd coming but for a guy that came up hard and didn't learn to box until I think he was 19? To go win a Bronze medal and have the success he did at the pro level is a pretty good story.
Also, he's a small heavyweight by today's standards and like it or not with the exception of Fury he's knocked out everyone who has been in the ring with him.
Larry Holmes is the 3rd best heavyweight ever in my opinion. Of course Deontay would lose to him.
Lennox Lewis is the 4th or 5th best heavyweight ever. It's between him and Big George. Again, no shame in that.
Riddick Bowe is the most overrated and underachieving heavyweight maybe ever. He had one great night against Evander the first fight and never came close to that ever again. Any other version of Bowe would have been vulnerable against Deontay. Wilder has WAY more heart the Riddick Bowe.
Mercer and Wilder would have been a war as long as Mercer showed up ready. Not a given considering his track record.
Holyfield is an all time great.
Vitali K - is a very hard man. To me, the better of the brothers.
Michael Dokes - Would have outboxed Deontay for a while but eventually would get knocked out. Again, Dokes wasn't consistent and a coke head. Wilder always respects the sport and shows up in shape.
Tyson - I couldn't pick against the 86-89 Tyson but post Douglass pre prison Tyson is an interesting fight. Post prison Tyson gets beat down. Like you said. Mike quits. He's the ultimate front runner.
Razor Ruddock and Deontay is a shoot out.
Prime Foreman was on his way to being the heavyweight GOAT until Ali intervened.
I'm not a Wilder fan, I just don't hate him. I also have a ton of respect for him as a warrior. That last fight with Fury reminded me that they have weight classes for a reason. I agree most of the guys you listed would probably beat him but there isn't any shame in that.