Our series dedicated to imaginary matchups between fighters from different eras returns today with a special clash between two heavyweights whose professional careers began about 40 years apart. Jimmy Young vs. Deontay Wilder: on one side, the man who forced George Foreman into a temporary retirement and held his own against Muhammad Ali and Ken Norton, coming within a whisker of winning the world title twice. On the other, the Bronze Bomber, known for his explosive right hand and countless spectacular KOs in the modern era. Who would have come out on top?
Jimmy Young: The Greatest “Uncrowned King” in Heavyweight History?
Looking solely at the raw numbers of his record, one might not think Jimmy Young was a fighter of great stature: 35 wins, 18 losses, and 3 draws are far from the typical résumé of a legendary champion. However, in the case of the Philadelphia-born fighter, one must look beyond the stats to fully appreciate his qualities. Twice he came agonizingly close to glory.
Young’s career can be divided into three phases: the early years, when he fought without sufficient experience or preparation; the final years, when he stepped into the ring in poor physical condition, serving as a stepping stone for up-and-coming heavyweights; and the prime years, during which he held his own with the best of the golden era of the 1970s.
Jimmy Young’s peak lasted only about four years (1974–1977), but during that time, he showcased world-class reflexes, defense, timing, and reaction speed. Many experts regard him as the best heavyweight never to have won a world title.
Deontay Wilder: Legend or Overhyped? Two Perspectives on the Bronze Bomber
For years, Deontay Wilder has sparked intense debate among fans, pundits, and boxing insiders. Some view him as an overhyped media product who managed to stay atop the heavyweight rankings only because of subpar competition before being exposed by recent losses. Others consider him one of the deadliest punchers in heavyweight history, attributing his recent decline to aging, which they argue has robbed him of his prime attributes.
The truth likely lies somewhere in between. Wilder’s résumé is indeed somewhat lackluster in terms of quality opponents, but during his prime, his right hand was a devastating weapon that no opponent could afford to ignore. After all, if Tyson Fury—a top-tier heavyweight of this era—hit the canvas four times across three fights, there must be something truly special about Wilder’s power.
Jimmy Young vs. Deontay Wilder: The Fantasy Fight!
Weight class: heavyweight. Scheduled rounds: 12.
Throughout his career, Deontay Wilder approached fights in different ways. In some, like his first bout against Tyson Fury or his clash with Dominic Breazeale, he went on the offensive from the opening bell, setting a fast pace to create opportunities for a fight-ending punch. More often, however, Wilder preferred a more patient approach, moving cautiously on his feet to “lure” his opponent into a mistake and punish them with his right hand.
If Wilder adopted this patient strategy against a fighter like Jimmy Young, the early rounds of the match would likely pass with little action. Young, too, was a patient fighter, accustomed to studying his opponent’s movements before committing. Against a cautious Wilder, he would likely do just enough to sway the judges without taking unnecessary risks.
Despite being at a height and reach disadvantage, the Philadelphia fighter would likely win the early rounds on the scorecards due to his technical skills. While Wilder showcased decent long-range boxing when he first won the WBC title against Bermane Stiverne, it’s worth noting that Stiverne was one of the least mobile heavyweight champions in history and was later diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, suggesting he was far from his best that night.
In most of his other professional bouts, Wilder struggled to maintain control with his jab and footwork, often losing rounds to lesser opponents. His rematch with Cuban veteran Luis Ortiz is a prime example: despite being a 40-year-old past his prime, Ortiz built a significant lead on the scorecards before being stopped.
Thanks to his technical superiority, Young would likely use his agility and intelligence to land the only meaningful combinations in the early rounds, while staying safely out of range of Wilder’s powerful punches for the rest of the time.
As the fight progressed, Wilder’s corner would undoubtedly urge him to increase his work rate and pressure in an effort to turn the tide. However, such a change in strategy would likely mark the beginning of the end for the Bronze Bomber.
When forced to take the initiative and go on the offensive, Wilder often revealed a lack of coordination and composure rarely seen among elite fighters. From poor balance to excessive forward leaning to wide, looping punches, Wilder frequently embodied what a fighter shouldn’t do in the ring. He often got away with these mistakes thanks to his opponents’ inability to capitalize on them.
Jimmy Young, at his peak, was a master at neutralizing wild and aggressive punchers. He drew against Earnie Shavers in a bout many felt he deserved to win, defeated the dangerous Ron Lyle twice, and even bested the great George Foreman, flooring him in the process. It’s hard to imagine him being overwhelmed by Wilder’s unorthodox attacks.
Young would likely weather Wilder’s storm, forcing him to miss repeatedly and leaving him increasingly frustrated and vulnerable as he tried desperately to change the fight’s momentum. By the final third of the bout, Young would likely begin exploiting the openings to land his best punches.
While Young lacked knockout power—his modest KO percentage attests to that—it would be a mistake to label him as feather-fisted. His preference for winning on points stemmed more from his cautious style and lack of killer instinct than from an inability to hurt his opponents.
The combination of Wilder’s defensive lapses and Young’s excellent timing suggests the 1970s contender could stagger his opponent and sap his energy, significantly reducing his offensive output.
Wilder’s courage has never been in question, and it’s plausible he would endure until the final bell, especially since Young was not inclined to take unnecessary risks.
Fantasy Prediction: Jimmy Young would build an early lead on the scorecards in a slow-paced first half of the fight thanks to his technical skills and craftiness. Wilder would increase his aggression after the midway point but would miss repeatedly and leave himself open to counterattacks. Young would exploit these opportunities to outbox Wilder convincingly, possibly scoring a knockdown. The Philadelphia fighter would then coast to a clear victory. Result: Jimmy Young defeats Deontay Wilder via unanimous decision with a wide margin on the scorecards.