Malik Scott to Wilder: Don't underestimate Duhaupas

Not much is known about Johann Duhaupas, at least by the general boxing public, and specifically those of us in the United States, but American heavyweight Malik Scott warns Deontay Wilder not to overlook Duhaupas when the two meet on September 26.

Scott, who has fought and lost to Wilder, has also trained with Duhaupas, and says the French heavyweight combines size, power, mental strength, and confidence, which Scott believes could catch Wilder (33-0, 32 KO) off-guard if he's not careful.

From Boxing News:

"He's coming to fight, he's extremely mentally strong and what's dangerous about him the most is that he believes he can win. Deontay will need to have his P's and Q's about him because if he takes him lightly, anything can happen in heavyweight boxing."

Duhaupas (32-2, 20 KO) did beat Manuel Charr on short notice in April, but the 34-year-old fringe contender has little else to recommend him as a threat to Wilder, save for Scott's endorsement of his performance in the gym. In March, he lost to Erkan Teper, and was also beaten by Francesco Pianeta in 2008. Losses from 2008 don't necessarily mean much of anything in 2015, but his two best opponents were Pianeta and Teper, and he lost to both. The majority of his wins have come at home in France against mediocre opponents.

Still, Scott's belief that anything can happen in heavyweight boxing shouldn't just fall on deaf ears, because he's right. Duhaupas' record suggests he does have some power, and one big shot from someone who's 6'5" and weighs around 240 pounds can be lights out. Top heavyweights have lost to "lesser" fighters plenty in the sport's history. Even the now-impenetrable Wladimir Klitschko has losses to Ross Puritty, Corrie Sanders, and Lamon Brewster. The idea of those guys beating Klitschko now seems almost unfathomable, but those things happened. And if Wilder's not careful, and Scott is right, Duhaupas has every opportunity to be his Ross Puritty.