Former welterweight world champion Shawn Porter thinks Deontay Wilder needs to be more active before facing off with Anthony Joshua next year, but still has one clear winner in mind.
Opinion has been divided about Joshua since his recent win over Robert Helenius.
Many fans were disappointed that the British heavyweight is no longer a seek-and-destroy fighter who knocks people out early, as he did for much of his career until losing to Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019.
These days, the two-time champ favours a more cautious approach, looking to set things up and find the perfect punch while avoiding taking much damage himself.
It’s a sensible tactic on paper, but the boos from fans during the third round at the O2 in London before he knocked out Helenius suggest it isn’t so popular outside of his camp.
Wilder is the opposite – he can and has finished fights in the opening round if he gets the opportunity. In fact, he did so his last time out, also against Helenius.
Speaking his The Porter Way Podcast, Porter reckoned the American needs to be more active in the run-up to face ‘AJ’, as he has just that one round under his belt in the last 12 months.
“Get him in a camp, a full camp, a six-week cycle, get him in the ring against Jermaine Franklin or something like that, we just want to see him in the ring to get back firing.
That way when you get in the ring with [Joshua] the car ain’t moved in forever. That blood gotta boil.”
Despite that advice, when Porter’s co-host says he is still siding with Wilder in the fight, Porter agreed.
“Me too. Me too. And I’m beyond just [Wilder’s] big right hand. I’m a big believer in what Malik Scott is able to do. I’m sure they’re still working.”
As the predictions keep coming, the world waits patiently for confirmation that the fight will actually go ahead.