Anthony Joshua

[Bard of Boxrec]

This happens every time an Olympian or high-profile amateur turns pro. People moan about them fighting bums..in their FIRST YEAR as a pro! In this instance the FIRST FIGHT! It's like the people who grumble don't realise that nearly every great fighter in history started out fighting scrubs like this, some for years, to ply their trade, earn some money, learn a bit and build exposure.

It seems to be accepted as long as these dastardly mismatches happen behind closed doors in a seedy leisure centre. But as soon as you get the cameras in for a high-profile debut, 'BUT WHYZ HE NOT FIGHTING TEH CHAMPEEEN?'

[daviddee]

bloody tough audience I thought he did great, only had a handful of amateur fights so hes still getting better, give the man a chance!

Curtis you will know yourself when you step up in levels you learn a lot more. Fighting guys like this he won't learn anything!! He has the potential to be a World Level fighter. A fighter like both him and Campbell need to be a bit higher quality in my eyes. Plenty of fights for both Joshua and Campbell at British Level.. It might be a bit cynical but mismatches like the 2 tonight are not fair on fans but even more so.. Dangerous to the opponents.

[iamasadlittleboy]

bloody tough audience I thought he did great, only had a handful of amateur fights so hes still getting better, give the man a chance!

Heavy hype comes with a tough audience. Especially when you look at how he won his Olympic medal and the class of Olympians he was in with.

I don't expect him to do a Lomachenko or a Murata (both will be fast tracked), but I will say what I see and if it looks like cynical match making and over-hyping I'll call it that.

He is getting better but for an Olympic gold medal winner...hmmm

This happens every time an Olympian or high-profile amateur turns pro. People moan about them fighting bums..in their FIRST YEAR as a pro! In this instance the FIRST FIGHT! It's like the people who grumble don't realise that nearly every great fighter in history started out fighting scrubs like this, some for years, to ply their trade, earn some money, learn a bit and build exposure.

I give you, Ryota Murata, fighting the OPBF champion on his debut...

[palooka]

bloody tough audience I thought he did great, only had a handful of amateur fights so hes still getting better, give the man a chance!

Curtis you will know yourself when you step up in levels you learn a lot more. Fighting guys like this he won't learn anything!! He has the potential to be a World Level fighter. A fighter like both him and Campbell need to be a bit higher quality in my eyes. Plenty of fights for both Joshua and Campbell at British Level.. It might be a bit cynical but mismatches like the 2 tonight are not fair on fans but even more so.. Dangerous to the opponents.

Good point david and glossed over or not noticed by people; the lads they box are not accustomed to boxing at that level - getting hit as hard, people can get hurt.

[squared circle]

bloody tough audience I thought he did great, only had a handful of amateur fights so hes still getting better, give the man a chance!

Curtis you will know yourself when you step up in levels you learn a lot more. Fighting guys like this he won't learn anything!! He has the potential to be a World Level fighter. A fighter like both him and Campbell need to be a bit higher quality in my eyes. Plenty of fights for both Joshua and Campbell at British Level.. It might be a bit cynical but mismatches like the 2 tonight are not fair on fans but even more so.. Dangerous to the opponents.

To say he should be fighting rogan or towers, both top ten British ranked, in his first fight is bordering on insanity.

Why doesnt he go the whole hog and fight price for the lonsdale next

[Tom Ford]

Joshua has zero defence, the second coming of Audley!

Agree with the first part.

[dominik]

This happens every time an Olympian or high-profile amateur turns pro. People moan about them fighting bums..in their FIRST YEAR as a pro! In this instance the FIRST FIGHT! It's like the people who grumble don't realise that nearly every great fighter in history started out fighting scrubs like this, some for years, to ply their trade, earn some money, learn a bit and build exposure.

It seems to be accepted as long as these dastardly mismatches happen behind closed doors in a seedy leisure centre. But as soon as you get the cameras in for a high-profile debut, 'BUT WHYZ HE NOT FIGHTING TEH CHAMPEEEN?'

yeah. as if ali, foreman, tyson or klitschko fought better guys in their first fights. everyone fights bums first, that is a proven way of building up fighters and perfectly legitimate.

[Finn]

This happens every time an Olympian or high-profile amateur turns pro. People moan about them fighting bums..in their FIRST YEAR as a pro! In this instance the FIRST FIGHT! It's like the people who grumble don't realise that nearly every great fighter in history started out fighting scrubs like this, some for years, to ply their trade, earn some money, learn a bit and build exposure.

It seems to be accepted as long as these dastardly mismatches happen behind closed doors in a seedy leisure centre. But as soon as you get the cameras in for a high-profile debut, 'BUT WHYZ HE NOT FIGHTING TEH CHAMPEEEN?'

its not about the quality of the opponent its the fact that he didnt seem to have snap in his punches.

[daviddee]

bloody tough audience I thought he did great, only had a handful of amateur fights so hes still getting better, give the man a chance!

Curtis you will know yourself when you step up in levels you learn a lot more. Fighting guys like this he won't learn anything!! He has the potential to be a World Level fighter. A fighter like both him and Campbell need to be a bit higher quality in my eyes. Plenty of fights for both Joshua and Campbell at British Level.. It might be a bit cynical but mismatches like the 2 tonight are not fair on fans but even more so.. Dangerous to the opponents.

To say he should be fighting rogan or towers, both top ten British ranked, in his first fight is bordering on insanity.

Why doesnt he go the whole hog and fight price for the lonsdale next

It's insanity?? He is at that level and probably above in honesty.. These are the fights Hughie Fury is looking at?? What makes Joshua any different?? He has just won an Olympic gold medal. He's a 2 time ABA champion he should beat Towers and Rogan convincingly!!

[Tom Ford]

Man this thread is depressing. He did fine, let's wait and see.

Very true. He needs to calm it down and no brawling.

Good jab!
Good Power
A little rushed but its his pro debut.
I have a niggling feeling is lack lof amateur boxing - as in not being a boxer for long - 4 years? - will be his undoing.

Dillian Whyte must be praying for a fight with him in a year or two.

[Finn]

Man this thread is depressing. He did fine, let's wait and see.

Very true. He needs to calm it down and no brawling.

Good jab!
Good Power
A little rushed but its his pro debut.
I have a niggling feeling is lack lof amateur boxing - as in not being a boxer for long - 4 years? - will be his undoing.

Dillian Whyte must be praying for a fight with him in a year or two.

eh? hes aba champion and olympic gold medalist how much more am boxing does he need.

[palooka]

But White has beaten him as an amateur Tom

[Tom Ford]

But White has beaten him as an amateur Tom

Oh yes, that's why Whyte wants the fight, but they will avoid Whyte if they can.

[Tom Ford]

Man this thread is depressing. He did fine, let's wait and see.

Very true. He needs to calm it down and no brawling.

Good jab!
Good Power
A little rushed but its his pro debut.
I have a niggling feeling is lack lof amateur boxing - as in not being a boxer for long - 4 years? - will be his undoing.

Dillian Whyte must be praying for a fight with him in a year or two.

eh? hes aba champion and olympic gold medalist how much more am boxing does he need.

Most have been boxing since they were kids. And as much as I like Josjhua, he lost easily to the cuban in the Olympics, he is a baby in boxing terms, but a good talent.

[DMA1987]

There can also be such a thing as being too long an amateur. Derry Matthews touched on it in an interview not long since.

As for tonight, its his pro debut FFS. It is a big monkey to get off your back, and it will bring a lot of nerves with it - why would you then add a ridiculously tough fight on top of it?! Come on guys, behave.

Joshua looked to have fast hands, a great jab, no defence (but then again he didn't need one). He held his chin high in exchanges, I'd look to sort that out if I was Sims.

[Finn]

Most have been boxing since they were kids. And as much as I like Josjhua, he lost easily to the cuban in the Olympics, he is a baby in boxing terms, but a good talent.

i'll agree with you he lost that fight but the quality of training he has had through his am career is leagues above most fighters turning pro. wlad only had about 4 or 5 years of am experience himself.

[DMA1987]

bloody tough audience I thought he did great, only had a handful of amateur fights so hes still getting better, give the man a chance!

Curtis you will know yourself when you step up in levels you learn a lot more. Fighting guys like this he won't learn anything!! He has the potential to be a World Level fighter. A fighter like both him and Campbell need to be a bit higher quality in my eyes. Plenty of fights for both Joshua and Campbell at British Level.. It might be a bit cynical but mismatches like the 2 tonight are not fair on fans but even more so.. Dangerous to the opponents.

Good point david and glossed over or not noticed by people; the lads they box are not accustomed to boxing at that level - getting hit as hard, people can get hurt.

The opponents have a choice, nobody forces them to take the fight.

[nfc90210]

Most have been boxing since they were kids. And as much as I like Josjhua, he lost easily to the cuban in the Olympics, he is a baby in boxing terms, but a good talent.

i'll agree with you he lost that fight but the quality of training he has had through his am career is leagues above most fighters turning pro. wlad only had about 4 or 5 years of am experience himself.

I don't know the time frame of Wlad's amateur career but (as per the Klit's official website) he did manage to have 140 amateur bouts. I think (and I couldn't find an official source on this and am going by a thread I found on Boxing Scene) that Joshua had less than 40.

[daviddee]

A lot of fighter will fight anyone. That's why we have matchmakers to stop mismatches!! Both fights tonight were mismatches.. The boy Joshua was fighting was very very stubborn they punches could of done some serious damage then I guarantee everyone would be saying something different. Boxing is a dangerous sport without the need for these type of fights! There is no need for Joshua or Campbell to be fighting these guys.. Hearn is putting them in with people who don't have the greatest resistance. It's to build up the fighters profile and what does that better than KO wins.. Why wouldn't Campbell have fought fighters who would give him the rounds like Kristian laight.. Guys like him know how to get through fights without taking too much.. There is a very fine line and it's being crossed

[Tom Ford]

He did well - but I hope he is allowed to develop over time. He will end up a 17st plus heavyweight.

[Des1]

How can those on here going on that he lacks power be serious? How do you know? He got rid of the guy in the 1st round. He certainly had the power to do that. Have any of you been hit on the chin by him? How do you know if he lacks power or not? Talk about negativity, and the amount of 'experts'

[iamasadlittleboy]

How can those on here going on that he lacks power be serious? How do you know? He got rid of the guy in the 1st round. He certainly had the power to do that. Have any of you been hit on the chin by him? How do you know if he lacks power or not? Talk about negativity, and the amount of 'experts'

A Heavyweight landing that many clean shots but struggling to put over a Cruiserweight...oh I dunno...

[DMA1987]

How can those on here going on that he lacks power be serious? How do you know? He got rid of the guy in the 1st round. He certainly had the power to do that. Have any of you been hit on the chin by him? How do you know if he lacks power or not? Talk about negativity, and the amount of 'experts'

A Heavyweight landing that many clean shots but struggling to put over a Cruiserweight...oh I dunno...

Honestly mate, you plain seem to have it in for Joshua.

[crusader]

I thought he looked raw in his amateur days and that carried to this fight, although his right cross looked sharp. I also don't see how people can already conclude that his power is a weakness based on a lone fight that he won by first round stoppage. Were there signs in the amateurs that he lacked power?

[baron_otto]

My view is that he moved well for a big guy and looked to have quick hands - both positives. As for his defence and power I'll reserve judgment for now. This was only his first pro fight after a short, if high profile, spell the the amateurs so he still will have a lot to learn.

I don't agree that this was too easy a fight for him though and he will learn nothing from it. As an olympic champion he is going to have to deal with all the hype, without believing it. This fight let him make a start to his career, get the win and get introduced to the sort of atmosphere and build up he will have to deal with until he retires. Lets face it, even after Audley got found out people were still talking about his fights and they were on a fairly big stage.