Johnny Nelson, has advised each and every world-class heavyweight to stay well clear of one fellow contender, suggesting that many stars of the division could be overlooking a game, dangerous power-puncher.
Much of the talk of the division has been of the collective disappointment at the failures to make the undisputed title clash between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, or even the long-awaited transatlantic showdown between Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua.
With these fighters regarded as the top four to most, fans want to watch them face off and see who comes out on top.
Former cruiserweight champ Nelson believes that Wilder is more than capable of doing that. In fact, on The First Bell Boxing podcast, he said the others should be avoiding ‘The Bronze Bomber’ at all costs.
“Usyk’s people will keep him away from Deontay Wilder. Even though he is ten miles ahead, in terms of talent and skill, that punch power is far too dangerous to give away to somebody who you have got to try and con and get [onto the] inside of. So, you avoid Wilder as much as possible, you put your blinkers on. Even though technically, he is worst out of the lot.”
‘Any of the fighters that are there [amongst the title contenders], stay away from Deontay Wilder, regardless of how much time he has had out [of the ring]. It just takes that split-second and it’s all over. I think that, although Usyk and Wilder is a great idea, that conversation won’t be had.”
Wilder has an incredible 42 knockouts from 43 wins. His only losses came at the hands of Fury, and even then the Brit was knocked down a total of four times over the trio of bouts.
It was recently reported that the long talks between Wilder and Joshua had hit a roadblock, but promoter Eddie Hearn tells Boxing Social that they are still working to make that fight happen.