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Wilder Unable to Connect
U.S. boxer Deontay Wilder, left, appears to be at a loss -- which he was -- as Italy's Clemente Russo is announced a 7-1 winner in their semifinal match.
(By Jonathan Newton -- The Washington Post)
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"I thought it would be harder work," he said through an interpreter. "He was slow but he's tall and I needed time to find the right way to shorten distances between us. . . . I thought he would be a very technical boxer but I was wrong."
Russo was right. Once Wilder started throwing punches, they flew hard but just never came close to landing in a place that could do damage. One punch went over Russo's head and crashed against the ropes. It wasn't until the fight was nearly over that something connected and he was given a point.
By then it was too late. As the last four seconds ticked down and Russo backed away, Wilder didn't swing, He looked ready to punch then threw nothing. The bell rang and he walked toward Campbell, his arms spread wide in confusion.
"It is difficult to hit me," Russo said.
Later, after he had time to absorb the defeat, Wilder seemed to understand this. He was not upset. He told the story again of his daughter, born 3 1/2 years ago, with spina bifida and how he gave up his dream of playing college basketball to get a job and help raise her. He said, as he has said for the last year, how he is boxing to make himself into a somebody, to make her proud.
Now he is an Olympic medalist. He is somebody.
"Look at where I am after three years [of boxing]," he said. "What do you think what would have happened if I had international experience?"
