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
A pretty accurate assessment. I genuinely felt we'd see a renewed energetic AJ on Saturday who'd be keen to put on a show but alas no. I see him having 2 more fights and then he's done. There's talk of a 'warm up' fight now against Joyce, Whyte or Wallin. I think he'd just about get past Whyte/Wallin but Joyce would be interesting.
If he does get past whoever then he'll probably have a fight with either Wilder or maybe Fury, lose and then he'll be done.
I'll also say this, I think he is frustrated. You can see he is holding back when talking to anyone, I dont doubt he would get in the ring with anyone as would most fighters but the whole stuff around chopping and changing trainers won't have done anything for fluidity of a style or consistency. I presume he now has a lot of mouths to feed so wants the enormous venue pay days, I'd also wager he looks quite bitterly at Eddie Hearn as well who patronises him and has also built a very big cash reserve for matchroom on the back of Anthony Joshua stadium fights.
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
A pretty accurate assessment. I genuinely felt we'd see a renewed energetic AJ on Saturday who'd be keen to put on a show but alas no. I see him having 2 more fights and then he's done. There's talk of a 'warm up' fight now against Joyce, Whyte or Wallin. I think he'd just about get past Whyte/Wallin but Joyce would be interesting.
If he does get past whoever then he'll probably have a fight with either Wilder or maybe Fury, lose and then he'll be done.
Joyce is all wrong stylistically for AJ and would definitely beat him imo. Also not really a money spinner, don't see Eddie booking that one in a million years
Joshua over time I think has regressed as he fights with fear. Fear he’s going to get hurt and fear he’s stamina is not going to go the distance. It’s only with a couple of rounds to go he relaxes on that front.
He just doesn’t look like someone who enjoys being in the ring. Think also he’s become thoroughly unlikeable over the years.
Think he’ll get one last big boxing payday, flop, and then it will be a decade of I’m a Celebrity etc ahead
I think he knows that whilst his chin isn't made of glass, it isn't that far off it. It inhibits him. Also he has a very good jab and relies on that more. He has to be aiming for Fury as his retirement fight and Fury hasn't got too many fights left in him so it ought to be in the nearish future if neither get too greedy. Fury wins though but it would be a great payday for both.
I watched the fight and it probably was good for him that it went the distance in one way as it was a test of his stamina, which he passed. It was incredibly one sided and there was no doubt whatsoever that he won it.
I think AJ is on the way out. A lot of the boxers on the scene now would be favoured to beat him - Dubois, Joyce, and even Zhang and Hrgovic would all give him a good run for his money, while Fury outclasses him, and Wilder sparks him early. That puts him way down the rankings and I cannot see him wanting to grind it out like Whyte has done for the last few years.
I think AJ is on the way out. A lot of the boxers on the scene now would be favoured to beat him - Dubois, Joyce, and even Zhang and Hrgovic would all give him a good run for his money, while Fury outclasses him, and Wilder sparks him early. That puts him way down the rankings and I cannot see him wanting to grind it out like Whyte has done for the last few years.
Probably because he never had to grind his way up in the first place. He got pushed and promoted on his golden boy rep at an accelerated rate straight to the top.
Not his fault really but he might be a better boxer if he'd spent a year or two as a B or C lister building up to the championship.
I think AJ is on the way out. A lot of the boxers on the scene now would be favoured to beat him - Dubois, Joyce, and even Zhang and Hrgovic would all give him a good run for his money, while Fury outclasses him, and Wilder sparks him early. That puts him way down the rankings and I cannot see him wanting to grind it out like Whyte has done for the last few years.
Dubois nowhere near that level, Joyce showed that. Wilder also doesn't spark him early. Too many people thinking Wilder is any good because Fury gave him a trilogy. 2 champions with padded records
I think AJ is on the way out. A lot of the boxers on the scene now would be favoured to beat him - Dubois, Joyce, and even Zhang and Hrgovic would all give him a good run for his money, while Fury outclasses him, and Wilder sparks him early. That puts him way down the rankings and I cannot see him wanting to grind it out like Whyte has done for the last few years.
Dubois nowhere near that level, Joyce showed that. Wilder also doesn't spark him early. Too many people thinking Wilder is any good because Fury gave him a trilogy. 2 champions with padded records
I think AJ is on the way out. A lot of the boxers on the scene now would be favoured to beat him - Dubois, Joyce, and even Zhang and Hrgovic would all give him a good run for his money, while Fury outclasses him, and Wilder sparks him early. That puts him way down the rankings and I cannot see him wanting to grind it out like Whyte has done for the last few years.
Hrgovic made a meal out of 39 year old Zhang (imo he lost that fight), and Zhang is too old, AJ would jab and move his head off like he did in Ruiz 2. Dubois, I think AJ stops, he doesn't like being hit even more than AJ. The Wilder fight is interesting as I think AJ would totally outbox him, but I don't think he can avoid getting one stuck on his chin for 12 rounds, so think he likely gets taken out rounds 8-12 when he starts gassing. AJ is definitely on the way down, but I think you're doing him a disservice there
I think AJ is on the way out. A lot of the boxers on the scene now would be favoured to beat him - Dubois, Joyce, and even Zhang and Hrgovic would all give him a good run for his money, while Fury outclasses him, and Wilder sparks him early. That puts him way down the rankings and I cannot see him wanting to grind it out like Whyte has done for the last few years.
Dubois nowhere near that level, Joyce showed that. Wilder also doesn't spark him early. Too many people thinking Wilder is any good because Fury gave him a trilogy. 2 champions with padded records
Wilder obviously isn't the most technically gifted boxer you'll ever see but a guy who can KO 42 fighters in 43 wins has to be taken seriously. He only needs to connect once and AJ is out of there.
Don't get me wrong, I actually like AJ! He's been a very good champion over recent years. I just think he's now on borrowed time, and others would give him a decent fight (although might not beat him in some cases). I still think Wilder gets him out in the first two rounds as he will hit him, and that's goodnight Venna for AJ! Yes, Zhang beat Hrgovic on many cards (including mine), and we'll see how good he is in a couple of weeks time against Joyce. Dubois will fight Usyk, and that's another good fight and good test for him. I doubt he'll win but he's a good heavyweight who may meet AJ later this year when they both need a win?
What do we think of the young (I think he's) French guy who's knocking everyone out at the moment?
I think AJ is on the way out. A lot of the boxers on the scene now would be favoured to beat him - Dubois, Joyce, and even Zhang and Hrgovic would all give him a good run for his money, while Fury outclasses him, and Wilder sparks him early. That puts him way down the rankings and I cannot see him wanting to grind it out like Whyte has done for the last few years.
Dubois nowhere near that level, Joyce showed that. Wilder also doesn't spark him early. Too many people thinking Wilder is any good because Fury gave him a trilogy. 2 champions with padded records
Wilder obviously isn't the most technically gifted boxer you'll ever see but a guy who can KO 42 fighters in 43 wins has to be taken seriously. He only needs to connect once and AJ is out of there.
I don't disagree, but that's heavyweight boing. You swap Wilder's name out for pretty much any top 5 HW and the same could be said about if they connect.
The post I replied to was implying that Wilder would spark AJ early because he's levels above him, and that simply isn't true.
I think AJ is on the way out. A lot of the boxers on the scene now would be favoured to beat him - Dubois, Joyce, and even Zhang and Hrgovic would all give him a good run for his money, while Fury outclasses him, and Wilder sparks him early. That puts him way down the rankings and I cannot see him wanting to grind it out like Whyte has done for the last few years.
Dubois nowhere near that level, Joyce showed that. Wilder also doesn't spark him early. Too many people thinking Wilder is any good because Fury gave him a trilogy. 2 champions with padded records
Wilder obviously isn't the most technically gifted boxer you'll ever see but a guy who can KO 42 fighters in 43 wins has to be taken seriously. He only needs to connect once and AJ is out of there.
I don't disagree, but that's heavyweight boing. You swap Wilder's name out for pretty much any top 5 HW and the same could be said about if they connect.
The post I replied to was implying that Wilder would spark AJ early because he's levels above him, and that simply isn't true.
I didn't say he was levels above him, just that I don't think AJ can live with Wilder's single punch ability. Not many heavyweights have been able to! Even Fury went down a few times in the trilogy. It's OK to disagree...one day I hope we get to find out and I'd love AJ to beat Wilder, but by then maybe both will be well past their best?
Read Joshua got between £20-25m for that on Saturday.
I'd love to know how. I'm sure they had to heavily reduce ticket prices to even get close to selling out, and i can't imagine the PPV numbers were great either.
I'm sure we've been here before and i won't believe it until i see them squaring off at the weigh in but Spence-Crawford is reportedly set to be signed for 17 June in Vegas.
Why is everyone scared to fight each other? So many superfights that should have happened keep getting called off, delayed or don't happen.
See above for how much Joshua got paid for a poor fight further up the thread.
There's a lot of boxers who get to a position where they can make the money without as much risk of getting hurt (or just losing), and they take it.
Why fight Usyk when you could get £20m from fighting Chisora again? Why fight a real challenger when fighting a UFC fighter or a YouTuber makes you more?
It's a huge shame and it lessens boxing, but there we go.
I agree Fury v Joshua probably happens though, its a huge money spinner - big last payday for both, and Fury will be confident he wins so will agree to it.
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If he does get past whoever then he'll probably have a fight with either Wilder or maybe Fury, lose and then he'll be done.
I watched the fight and it probably was good for him that it went the distance in one way as it was a test of his stamina, which he passed. It was incredibly one sided and there was no doubt whatsoever that he won it.
Not his fault really but he might be a better boxer if he'd spent a year or two as a B or C lister building up to the championship.
It's been his choice to stick with the Essex Boy's, not a forced one.
What do we think of the young (I think he's) French guy who's knocking everyone out at the moment?
The post I replied to was implying that Wilder would spark AJ early because he's levels above him, and that simply isn't true.
Yep, maybe 2 fury fights if it's not a shit show. 1st in Saudi, 2nd at Wembley.
There's a lot of boxers who get to a position where they can make the money without as much risk of getting hurt (or just losing), and they take it.
Why fight Usyk when you could get £20m from fighting Chisora again? Why fight a real challenger when fighting a UFC fighter or a YouTuber makes you more?
It's a huge shame and it lessens boxing, but there we go.