Am I the only person not sold on Anthony Joshua???

Finn · Post by **Finn** » 23 Nov 2014, 18:16

Im not saying he hasnt looked impressive or that he isnt being moved on fast enough, and I hope he does have the potential to go on a be a dominant force at HW.

However he is massively over hyped at the moment - the general public seem to be brainwashed into believing this guy could step in the ring tomorrow with guys like chisora, fury, wlad, haye, and blow them away.

Price was blowing away this level of opposition too.

The facts remain -
1. We haven't seen his chin tested
2. We haven't seen his stamina tested
3. We haven't seen if he is durable
4. He hasn't shown 1 punch KO power
5. His defense doesn't look amazing yet

Those questions need to be answered before heralding him the next great HW champion of our era.

Also he has this huge, and i do wonder if its partially manufactured, persona being built that he's some really down to earth nice guy. Yet i'm seeing the posts he puts up on facebook which are thinly veiled advertising posts disguised as day to day spur of the moment pictures e.g.

This post clearly advertising FCUK fear, posted as "Great to capture these moments before fight night! The calm before the storm, thank you #StayHungry"

Its also well documented he was asking for huge money for his signature to turn pro (which to be fair is expected).

Im just not buying all the propaganda yet.

TheLeprechaun · Post by **TheLeprechaun** » 23 Nov 2014, 18:48

everyone who has a normal bit of common sense knows what he's on

apart from that, one thing I noticed is he is very flat and slow footed.

crusader · Post by **crusader** » 23 Nov 2014, 19:11

I'm not sold on him as being the next great HW, though I think he's clearly very promising. I posted this in a related thread in the CS:

My opinion is that he's the best prospect in the division. I don't read that much into his last win given that Sprott has three first round stoppage losses since August 2013, but Joshua has consistently impressed over his last several fights and despite his relative inexperience he's beaten certain opponents far more convincingly than recentish title challengers like Solis and Charr have. He's a legitimate SHW, seems to use his size well, has good power, decent speed, and he's shown variety to me, being able to fight relatively well inside and out. Another quality that I have a particular fondness for his activity in clinches, as he doesn't consistently let opponents get an unpunished breather when they're tied up as so many others do.

He still seems a bit stiff to me and sometimes he lifts his head straight up when attacked, which is perhaps a sign that he gets slightly uncomfortable when people are throwing back at him. His chin and stamina are also fairly untested as a pro, and given his muscular frame and instances of being dropped/hurt in the amateurs I'm not ready to say that he won't have issues in those departments. Obviously if he keeps blowing people away these factors won't be huge issues, but I suspect he'll eventually face people who clock him with some power or extend him several rounds, or both. If his chin and stamina are solid I think his chances of becoming an elite HW, possibly THE man in the division are good, but questions remain about those attributes.

reggaereggae · Post by **reggaereggae** » 23 Nov 2014, 21:27

I am sold on him. If you could buy stock in a fighter he would be my top choice. Teh competition of up and coming heavies is virtually non existent. After Wlad retires who is there? Wilder is possible. But apart form that very ordinary.

As long as he can take a shot. And this is so important on the heavies of all division. There have been heavy champs with suspect chins, some might say Wlad, but to me this is the only question.

el_grande_mauro_mina · Post by **el_grande_mauro_mina** » 23 Nov 2014, 22:01

I don't think anyone should be sold on any heavyweight until they have took a proper wallop to the chin. That can and has derailed the best of hopes and dreams. If some folk haven't learned that by now then they haven't learned anything.

hurlock · Post by **hurlock** » 24 Nov 2014, 01:04

I'd say get excited about this fighter!!!
When was the last time you saw a heavyweight pin somebody like that & show accuracy & raw strength! Roy jones used to do that & there's not been since who could! I was very impressed

stevieb_8006 · Post by **stevieb_8006** » 24 Nov 2014, 03:33

Although it doesn't really bare any relevance, I thought he lost a few times in the Olympics.

The Insider · Post by **The Insider** » 24 Nov 2014, 03:55

He's got huge potential and throws fast accurate punches with both hands but he's had it all his own way as yet (which is the norm with a heavyweight cash cow) and for me of still a bit of an unknown quantity. If he can take a decent shot and proves durable there won't be much to stop him. He's slowly ticking the boxes so time will tell. I hope his next few fights can address the if ands and buts and tell us if we really do have a special heavyweight talent. It'll be interesting finding out.

forcefraser · Post by **forcefraser** » 24 Nov 2014, 03:55

He has the required nasty edge needed. I like the guy.

Finn · Post by **Finn** » 24 Nov 2014, 04:58

hurlock wrote:I'd say get excited about this fighter!!!
When was the last time you saw a heavyweight pin somebody like that & show accuracy & raw strength! Roy jones used to do that & there's not been since who could! I was very impressed

Deontay wilders doing exactly the same, yet he's still taking a lot of stick for being untested.

Boxerbeetle · Post by **Boxerbeetle** » 24 Nov 2014, 05:01

Fat Git wrote:I don't think anyone should be sold on any heavyweight until they have took a proper wallop to the chin. That can and has derailed the best of hopes and dreams. If some folk haven't learned that by now then they haven't learned anything.

This about sums it up. Despite history being re-written by some, a lot of people were genuinely sold on Price until the Thompson fights. Obviously hope Joshua doesn't go the same way, but we won't know until he's faced a live opponent who hits him back.

Bard of Boxrec · Post by **Bard of Boxrec** » 24 Nov 2014, 05:06

Does anyone know much about his knockdowns suffered during the amateurs?

From what I have seen, he has taken some big shots on the chin from the likes of Cammarelle and Medzhidov and stood up to them well...

I have a feeling he might be a sturdy enough sort, just from the amateur fights I have seen...but it has been a year or so since I saw those contests, might rewatch some amateur fights of his.

Anyway, I'm a huge fan and hope he has a great career. Kevin Johnson is a very good next fight for him. I think Joshua has a chance of a late stoppage.

By the way, about Price... prior to the Thompson fights there were far more concerns about Price's chin from the amateur days than there are currently about Joshua's I think. There was more than one occasion when Price fell apart in the amateurs, he got demolished by Cammarelle for a start, whereas I don't think there is the same level of worry about Joshua's punch resistance. I also think Joshua is considerably more skilled and athletic than Price, and his mentality seems stronger too.

JC · Post by JC » 24 Nov 2014, 05:14

I'm sold on his potential, not so much on his training set-up. I'd love to at least see them bring in someone with experience of taking a HW to the top.

ILikeBeer · Post by **ILikeBeer** » 24 Nov 2014, 06:28

He's looking good, but it's clearly too early to tell whether he'll be an All Time Great.

I'll admit, I though David Price was going to be a big deal in the division, which obviously isn't the case. Hopefully Joshua will be the next big thing, but I'll reserve judgement until he fights somebody who'll give him a test.

Syntax Error · Post by **Syntax Error** » 24 Nov 2014, 06:45

I like Joshua, but I do agree that he might be a little overhyped at the moment.

There's another thread about who should be his next opponent & a some posters are citing people like Tony Thompson & Eddie Chambers as his next opponent, as opposed to Kevin Johnson!

I think some people are forgetting that Joshua is still a novice & I can't see any logic in putting him in with the likes of Thompson or Chambers right now

Some say that Johnson won't offer much & I do agree with that to an extent.

What Johnson will do is frustrate Joshua & whilst that might not be good viewing, it's all part of Joshua's learning process.

He fights very regularly & it can only be a short time before he is ready for the step-up to the likes of Chambers & Thompson anyway.

black panther · Post by **black panther** » 24 Nov 2014, 08:12

J-C wrote:I'm sold on his potential, not so much on his training set-up. I'd love to at least see them bring in someone with experience of taking a HW to the top.

Agreed. Not sold on Tony Sims as a trainer.

Benelio · Post by **Benelio** » 24 Nov 2014, 08:25

I just can't warm to the PR manufactured interview style (and twittering) that he's adopted.

Also, the average height of the opponents he's fought to date, must be about 6'1" . I'm guessing the average height of the top ranked 20 heavyweights must be about 6'4". He seems to have a size advantage in his fights that's the equivalent of another prospect in a lighter division fighting someone a division or two less. Would we be getting excited about a Welterweight that was blasting out Lightweights? I realise Sprott actually outweighed him, but I'm taking about frame size and natural strength. Sprott should be weighing no more than 16 1/2 stones IMO.

187 · Post by **187** » 24 Nov 2014, 08:44

I don't buy into the opinion that we won't find out what he's all about until he takes a good shot on the chin I think we'll find out what he's all about when he faces someone that can take what he dishes out.
In the same way david price fell apart because Thompson wasn't blown away and price subsequently burnt himself out and got stopped, same thing happened to another David against another Thompson.

tony1234 · Post by **tony1234** » 24 Nov 2014, 09:08

J-C wrote:I'm sold on his potential, not so much on his training set-up. I'd love to at least see them bring in someone with experience of taking a HW to the top.

Frank Maloney

Crease · Post by **Crease** » 24 Nov 2014, 11:48

Finn wrote:Re: Am I the only person not sold on Anthony Joshua???

No. I'm still reserving judgement until he steps up in the calibre of his opponents. Don't get me wrong, he's looking good and he's ticked all the boxes so far. But too many people are getting way too excited about him.

At the moment, he's still just a good prospect, he aint done nothing yet. He hasn't even won the British Title yet and people are talking about him being a future World Heavyweight Champion.

Let's get serious about this, the kid has a loooonnngggg way to go yet. But he hasn't put a foot wrong thus far.

Karl Jade · Post by **Karl Jade** » 24 Nov 2014, 11:55

He never gets a chance to show one punch KO power. The first time he lands even remotely clean his opponent is backing up and covering up. He's obviously ludicrously powerful.

TheCobra · Post by **TheCobra** » 24 Nov 2014, 12:01

I'm sold on his promise. He's done everything he can do so far. That's all he can do, beat what's in front of him. The hype is only what would go with any young heavyweight who was blasting people out.

When he gets tested on the chin then we'll know, yes of course we will, but anyone can get chinned in the heavys and he certainly hasn't given the impression yet that he's vulnerable or chinny.

Crease · Post by **Crease** » 24 Nov 2014, 12:36

One thing that I am impressed about is his activity rate - he's fought four fights in the past five months... And I'dl ike to see him keeping that rate up and staying active.
And undoubtedly we should be looking at Danny Williams, Audley Harrison Martin Rogan, Tom Dallas & John McDermott as potential opponents for him to demolish.

If he wants to clean the British Heavyweight scene out, he could do it in 4/5 months...

Benelio · Post by **Benelio** » 24 Nov 2014, 13:27

Crease wrote:And undoubtedly we should be looking at Danny Williams, Audley Harrison Martin Rogan, Tom Dallas & John McDermott as potential opponents for him to demolish.

No way would Williams ever get licensed in Britain again at this stage of his career.

Rogan and Harrison are possibilities I think. I can't see there being a whole lot of interest in him fighting Dallas or McDermott, unless they're on the undercard of a low-key show. Is Dallas even interested in fighting again after losing to Lewison?

Crease · Post by **Crease** » 24 Nov 2014, 13:36

Benelio wrote:No way would Williams ever get licensed in Britain again at this stage of his career.

I know that he's had a poor run of results recently, but he's still a recognised "name" in Birtish boxing circles.

Benelio wrote:Rogan and Harrison are possibilities I think. I can't see there being a whole lot of interest in him fighting Dallas or McDermott, unless they're on the undercard of a low-key show. Is Dallas even interested in fighting again after losing to Lewison?

I was just throwing out possibilities. AJ is still young and there's plenty of time for the big World Title fights that people are foreseeing for him. At this stage of his career, it should be about getting that Lonsdale Belt, then three defenses to win it outright.

And he would probably get a shot at the Commonwealth Heavyweight Title against Browne after another 4/5 British-level demolition jobs.