Could Anthony Joshua have faced Danny Williams on debut?

[GrantieT]

Rather than face this unknown, unbeaten Italian does anyone feel Danny Williams would have been a more viable fight?

Williams has lost his last few fights and is now 40-years-old. Despite this, he's a name to put on your record.

I think in a 6 rounder he would have been a great first fight for Joshua. Anyone agree/disagree?

[The Law]

Welcome to the forum.

Danny doesn't have a British license, hence why he only fights abroad these days (using a Latvian License). Joshua's debut had to happen in the UK, so this was never an option.

[jameswilson]

No. End of thread.

[DIRT SUGAR]

What a bloody horrible idea. Really!?!

[JC]

No. Just no.

[whiskey]

I see your angle mate, and I agree on the basic idea.

But the deeper reason why Danny is so beatable and presents no risk, is that he is totally shot to bits and gets punched for pay now on foreign shows.

[Superheavy]

By the same logic, would you see him face Holyfield in his second bout, followed by a huge box office showdown with Tyson?!

[TheCobra]

Williams = human punchbag. No-one wants to see that.

[JimJim2009]

If Joshua won, he would be tainted by being involved in something unsavoury. A match up like that shouldn't be made, although I suppose the irony is that some other poor bugger is going to be in the ring taking a battering off Joshua, and we accept it as he's younger and has a record more appropriate and respectable.

[BO Selecta]

Rather than face this unknown, unbeaten Italian does anyone feel Danny Williams would have been a more viable fight?

Williams has lost his last few fights and is now 40-years-old. Despite this, he's a name to put on your record.

I think in a 6 rounder he would have been a great first fight for Joshua. Anyone agree/disagree?

It would have been a dreadful idea.

Danny is shot to buggery & beating him would be of no value whatsoever.

There's also the risk that Danny might just have enough left & be too cute for a novice professional & ruin Joshua before he ever got going.

Either way it would be a horrible idea.

[JC]

All British heavyweight hopes (including Lewis) get way too much pressure and criticism way too early on in their careers. Since Lewis and Harrison ended up going abroad in the end anyway you wonder if Joshua would be better basing himself abroad for a few years so he can build himself up out of the spotlight a bit. If he keeps winning it's not like the British public will forget all about him. Or am I being a bit naive there?

The fact he's headlining a show on his debut just adds fuel to the fire. Hope he's allowed to go on a learn his trade as he needs to.

Do you reckon Hearn has learnt the lessons from Lews, Audley, Price etc?

[Tom Ford]

No. Danny might knock him out cold and ruin him.

Joshua is not a baby he is an embryo in boxing terms.

I worry for him in the Pros and if it were not for the fact Matchroom have all the money I think he would be better off with Bunny for his first 10-15 fights.

[JimJim2009]

I worry for him in the Pros and if it were not for the fact Matchroom have all the money I think he would be better off with Bunny for his first 10-15 fights.[/quote]

He's probably have been happy to go with Bunny for his first 10-15 fights on the provision that he can then decide who to advance the next stage of his career with. Alas you don't get that in this sport.

[expe]

He's probably have been happy to go with Bunny for his first 10-15 fights on the provision that he can then decide who to advance the next stage of his career with. Alas you don't get that in this sport.

What's to stop him signing a 10-15 fight deal over 2-3 years then not resigning when it's up?

[Tom Ford]

I worry for him in the Pros and if it were not for the fact Matchroom have all the money I think he would be better off with Bunny for his first 10-15 fights.

He's probably have been happy to go with Bunny for his first 10-15 fights on the provision that he can then decide who to advance the next stage of his career with. Alas you don't get that in this sport.[/quote]

I think he could have insisted on it - having a say after 10-15 fights - with Frank staying onboard on some capacity.

But I doubt Frank would beat the offer Matchroom made - whatever it was.

[JimJim2009]

He's probably have been happy to go with Bunny for his first 10-15 fights on the provision that he can then decide who to advance the next stage of his career with. Alas you don't get that in this sport.

What's to stop him signing a 10-15 fight deal over 2-3 years then not resigning when it's up?

Thats a naive question. He has a track record of claiming "verbal contracts" and taking you to court. Name me one fighter who's ever left him in an amicable way ? Except for George Groves who was on a short term deal anyway.

[expe]

He's probably have been happy to go with Bunny for his first 10-15 fights on the provision that he can then decide who to advance the next stage of his career with. Alas you don't get that in this sport.

What's to stop him signing a 10-15 fight deal over 2-3 years then not resigning when it's up?

Thats a naive question. He has a track record of claiming "verbal contracts" and taking you to court. Name me one fighter who's ever left him in an amicable way ? Except for George Groves who was on a short term deal anyway.

Verbal contracts don't stand up in court, especially when an actual contract has been signed.

[JimJim2009]

ame me one fighter who's ever left him in an amicable way ? Except for George Groves who was on a short term deal anyway.[/quote]
Verbal contracts don't stand up in court, especially when an actual contract has been signed.[/quote]

Don't tell me expe, tell the twat who drags fighters into court over verbal contracts.

He is like an obsessive ex girlfriend who stalks you and can't let you go. I know you have a hard-on for the bloke but you have to admit he is a bit unhinged when it comes to how he reacts to fighters leaving him. If he's in the right all the time, how come no fighter has ever gone back to him ? They want to leave, they say they can leave contractually, and they go and fight for another promoter and get on with their careers. w arren's threats and legal action just seem to peter out or else he throws in the towel (bellew) when his bullying hasn't worked.

[mickey1975]

ame me one fighter who's ever left him in an amicable way ? Except for George Groves who was on a short term deal anyway.

Verbal contracts don't stand up in court, especially when an actual contract has been signed.[/quote]

Don't tell me expe, tell the twat who drags fighters into court over verbal contracts.

He is like an obsessive ex girlfriend who stalks you and can't let you go. I know you have a hard-on for the bloke but you have to admit he is a bit unhinged when it comes to how he reacts to fighters leaving him. If he's in the right all the time, how come no fighter has ever gone back to him ? They want to leave, they say they can leave contractually, and they go and fight for another promoter and get on with their careers. w arren's threats and legal action just seem to peter out or else he throws in the towel (bellew) when his bullying hasn't worked.[/quote]
Nigel Benn went back, Naz publicly admits the worst mistake he made was leaving Fwank, Calzaghe sits next to him ringside and Hatton has gone back, as a promoter.

[lefty]

All British heavyweight hopes (including Lewis) get way too much pressure and criticism way too early on in their careers. Since Lewis and Harrison ended up going abroad in the end anyway you wonder if Joshua would be better basing himself abroad for a few years so he can build himself up out of the spotlight a bit. If he keeps winning it's not like the British public will forget all about him. Or am I being a bit naive there?

The fact he's headlining a show on his debut just adds fuel to the fire. Hope he's allowed to go on a learn his trade as he needs to.

Do you reckon Hearn has learnt the lessons from Lews, Audley, Price etc?

Yeah but the only way he's going to earn relatively big bucks at this stage of his career is if he headlines shows.

[JimJim2009]

Nigel Benn went back, Naz publicly admits the worst mistake he made was leaving Fwank, Calzaghe sits next to him ringside and Hatton has gone back, as a promoter.[/quote]

I meant active fighters. Didn't Fwank take legal action against all those fighters you've mentioned ? The point I was trying to make is that somebody like Joshua can do without it. Why would you sign with somebody who does that to fighters when they leave him ?

[JimJim2009]

Nigel Benn went back, Naz publicly admits the worst mistake he made was leaving Fwank, Calzaghe sits next to him ringside and Hatton has gone back, as a promoter.

Naz also publicly says he wouldn't re-sign for Fwank because the contract put to him to extend their promotional agreement was no good - the promoter was wanting to take too much. Everyone knows he wound up a company leaving Joe £2.4m out of pocket, and as for Hatton going back as a promoter, Hatton's ship is sinking and its a deal with the devil. Which incidentally hasn't produced a single show yet either.

[lefty]

Nigel Benn went back, Naz publicly admits the worst mistake he made was leaving Fwank, Calzaghe sits next to him ringside and Hatton has gone back, as a promoter.

I meant active fighters. Didn't Fwank take legal action against all those fighters you've mentioned ? The point I was trying to make is that somebody like Joshua can do without it. Why would you sign with somebody who does that to fighters when they leave him ?[/quote]
You say Expe has a hard on for FW and I suppose the same could be said for me but you know where you said about Wlad being a public image manipulator? Well myself and expe and im sure a few others feel the same way about Eddie Hearn. He likes to give off this image of being people's best mates when let's be honest, he's in it for the money which every promoter is. Anyway, it's not so much a hard on for FW but rather defending some elements of him to a degree.

[lefty]

Nigel Benn went back, Naz publicly admits the worst mistake he made was leaving Fwank, Calzaghe sits next to him ringside and Hatton has gone back, as a promoter.

Naz also publicly says he wouldn't re-sign for Fwank because the contract put to him to extend their promotional agreement was no good - the promoter was wanting to take too much. Everyone knows he wound up a company leaving Joe £2.4m out of pocket, and as for Hatton going back as a promoter, Hatton's ship is sinking and its a deal with the devil. Which incidentally hasn't produced a single show yet either.

That is true but if FW is so dastardly why was Calzaghe sitting next to FW at the Cleverly-Kovalev show at seemingly getting on rather well, chatting and smiling?

[JimJim2009]

You say Expe has a hard on for FW and I suppose the same could be said for me but you know where you said about Wlad being a public image manipulator? Well myself and expe and im sure a few others feel the same way about Eddie Hearn. He likes to give off this image of being people's best mates when let's be honest, he's in it for the money which every promoter is. Anyway, it's not so much a hard on for FW but rather defending some elements of him to a degree.[/quote]

My views on W arren aren't linked to thinking Eddie is the messiah. I have no doubt at all that in the years to come there'll be some very interesting developments on the Matchroom front - he cannot possibly keep them all happy. At the moment there is euphoric momentum to all their signings etc. 50/50 things that could go either way have gone their way and they're on a roll. It won't last and I'm certain fighters will end up turning on him too. I agree that his angle of coming across as a fighter's best mate is ill-judged in the medium and long term.

He has benefited from being able to cherry pick disgruntled fighters from the W arren and Hennessey camps and he's enjoying spectacular success. He hasn't spent years developing these fighters from scratch and can take risks with them. I wonder how he'll feel taking risks with fighters he has invested a lot of money and several years of time in. I also wonder how he will feel if a fighter he's put a lot into developing - lets say Anthony Joshua in 2 years time - wants to become a free agent and walk away from Matchroom. No doubt Eddie won't have a shxt-eating grin on his face then.

I basically just enjoy the boxing politics from my limited view as an armchair fan