By Tim Parsons-
Champion. Deontey Wilder Must knock out George Washington to keep his dream alive.
The Alabama native 37-0(36) meets Washington 18-0(12) on Saturday in a clash of the giant that promises to excite.
Not least because both men stand at 6 ft 6 inches, and both have reason to expect to be victorious.
STAMINA
Washington has been the distance 12 times, evidencing the stamina to go the whole way but also lacking the concussive power to put them all on the canvas.
This will be his biggest test and the fact he has never tasted defeat will make him confident.
That confidence may not amount to much if Wilder blows him out, but Washington’s team would have prepared him for the challenge ahead.
Washington will come to win, and the chance of an upset may make this fight interesting. Wilder is favored by most boxing experts to win this fight.
Only one of Wilder’ s opponent’s has gone the full distance with him, and that was Bernade Stivens in his first defense of the WBC title, Wilder snatched off him. All the rest have been knocked out cold.
Although the Alabama’s resume in his rise to heavyweight glory has not always been the most impressive, Wilder has shown consistent power in stopping all the challengers that have attempted to take his title off him.
UNIFICATION
A unification title is what the American leading world heavyweight champion wants, but that big fight is likely to come sometime in 2018.
If Anthony Joshua continues to win his IBF defenses, a clash between him and Wilder will definitely be the one for the unification title he boxing world is waiting for.
Dangerous contenders for that spot includes unbeaten strong man, Luiz Otis and Britain’s David Haye, who after taken care of Tony Bellew’s on March 4, will himself need to face a heavyweight of substance first to really raise an appeal for a potential clash with Joshua.
APPEAL
Wilder, in the meantime, must do a number on Washington, and do it in style to keep his appeal strong.
The WBC champion, who has had fights fall through, recently won a court battle against drug cheat, Alexander Povetkin, and was awarded 5m dollars.
Wilder will be in good spirits for his fight, but he must win it, and that’s something not always guaranteed in heavyweight boxing.