Any thoughts on the AJ v Jermaine Franklin fight this weekend? To quote Seth this surely has to be a “must win” for Joshua.
I think it's set up for a win for Joshua Don't think his team would risk this fight if not as there would be no way back for him Unless there's a big purse that's how it's run now
I fancy AJ to win tonight. He knows the pressure is on and he needs to win well to silence the critics and put himself back in line for a big fight with Wilder or Fury.
Poor from Joshua. Needed to knock him out to prove he’s on the way back. Hasn’t looked the same since the Ruiz loss. He used to go out to knock out his opponent. Now tries to outbox his opponent which was never his style
Joshua has trouble with smaller men than him who are tricky and like to hang on .. he's better against straight ahead come at you boxers, he can handle that type, though I wouldn't give him much of a chance against (e.g.) Wilder .. disappointing fight that could set his career back rather than enhancing it. If Dubois is fully back on track or Joe Joyce before he gets TOO old, they could be potential opponents for Joshua. Surely all British rumbles would still appeal to a public that is getting (or has got) disillusioned with AJ
The sad part of this is a lot of us saw this coming. And I dont blame Anthony Joshua, he was given a home decision for his gold medal, in my opinion, I'm sure lots of people will disagree, he was then managed very, very carefully and again, in my opinion was progressed far too quickly as Hearn saw the raw materials of a serious ticket seller, big strong boy, massive smile and seemingly good guy with a good underdog story and sold him. He was put in with absolute punchbags including a truly awful world champion in Charles Martin and then whooshed into a shoot-out with a shop worn but game 40 plus year old Wladimir Klitcshko who he was able to fight on instinct and was let off by the over-caution of Wlad when he had Joshua truly bang in trouble. He suffers from a similar thing to what Amir Khan used to do, he visibly does not like being hurt and by that I mean the rough stuff, the head clashes, elbows. But reacts terribly when buzzed, he doesn't hold and tie up, his instinct is to engage.
He is in the conversation and is among the best heavyweights in the world however, he is a level below the very best
Comments
Don't think his team would risk this fight if not as there would be no way back for him
Unless there's a big purse that's how it's run now
I'm going for a KO in rounds 7-8.
Although not at the elite level, Whyte is a better/tougher fighter now than he was when AJ stopped him.
Bang on the money if you ask me
If Dubois is fully back on track or Joe Joyce before he gets TOO old, they could be potential opponents for Joshua. Surely all British rumbles would still appeal to a public that is getting (or has got) disillusioned with AJ
He is in the conversation and is among the best heavyweights in the world however, he is a level below the very best