Should Anthony Joshua go for the British title?

[MBeads]

I personally would like him to so that he may come up against Whyte, Chisora, Price maybe. Or in (hopefully) defeating Johnson has he risen above that level?

[chad]

When Fury beat Johnson in 2012 it was a WBC heavyweight title eliminator. When Chisora beat Johnson last year it was a tune up fight to face Fury with the winner going on to face Klitschko. Johnson is very much the gatekeeper to the heavyweight division at the moment. If Joshua destroys him, he's pretty much bypassed domestic level and can look forward to the European and World stage.

[kamicazze]

When Fury beat Johnson in 2012 it was a WBC heavyweight title eliminator. When Chisora beat Johnson last year it was a tune up fight to face Fury with the winner going on to face Klitschko. Johnson is very much the gatekeeper to the heavyweight division at the moment. If Joshua destroys him, he's pretty much bypassed domestic level and can look forward to the European and World stage.

Nicely summarised and can't argue with it at all

[keithmoonhangover]

Johnson is going to turn into the new Everett 'Big Foot' Martin. God, I'm showing my age.

[expe]

When Fury beat Johnson in 2012 it was a WBC heavyweight title eliminator. When Chisora beat Johnson last year it was a tune up fight to face Fury with the winner going on to face Klitschko. Johnson is very much the gatekeeper to the heavyweight division at the moment. If Joshua destroys him, he's pretty much bypassed domestic level and can look forward to the European and World stage.

I think that shows how Johnson's status has slowly diminished, he went from only having lost to Vitali, to a decent test for Fury, then a tune up for Chisora. At this point he isn't really a gatekeeper to world level anymore, just another vague name opponent, almost like a high end journeyman with the way he goes through fights without ever seeming to have any ambition of winning. I can't see him being a massive test for Joshua because he usually turns up with no ambition, even stopping him wouldn't be much of a statement considering that Chisora managed to drop him, the only way for Joshua to make people sit up and take notice with this fight is to get Johnson out of there in the first 6 rounds.

[stevedoc]

i could see joshua fighting chisora for the british title with in a year

[Horse]

Yes, Joshua should fight for the British title and he should try to win it outright.

[milpool]

I'd love to see AJ go down the British Title route. Win it, defend it and eventually keep it outright.
However, I fear he'll go down the International/Intercontinental route, totally bypassing the British, Commonwealth and European which seems to be the norm these days.

[magwitch]

When Fury beat Johnson in 2012 it was a WBC heavyweight title eliminator. When Chisora beat Johnson last year it was a tune up fight to face Fury with the winner going on to face Klitschko. Johnson is very much the gatekeeper to the heavyweight division at the moment. If Joshua destroys him, he's pretty much bypassed domestic level and can look forward to the European and World stage.

Nicely summarised and can't argue with it at all

i disagree. Always go for the British title if you can. Specially the way he's blazing through some "bums". The more experience he has the better as there will come a day probably that he'll need it to call upon.

[Maxsplit]

When Fury beat Johnson in 2012 it was a WBC heavyweight title eliminator. When Chisora beat Johnson last year it was a tune up fight to face Fury with the winner going on to face Klitschko. Johnson is very much the gatekeeper to the heavyweight division at the moment. If Joshua destroys him, he's pretty much bypassed domestic level and can look forward to the European and World stage.

I think that shows how Johnson's status has slowly diminished, he went from only having lost to Vitali, to a decent test for Fury, then a tune up for Chisora. At this point he isn't really a gatekeeper to world level anymore, just another vague name opponent, almost like a high end journeyman with the way he goes through fights without ever seeming to have any ambition of winning. I can't see him being a massive test for Joshua because he usually turns up with no ambition, even stopping him wouldn't be much of a statement considering that Chisora managed to drop him, the only way for Joshua to make people sit up and take notice with this fight is to get Johnson out of there in the first 6 rounds.

Very much so

He is a former gatekeeper. Once you lose successive landslide decisions to Manuel Charr and Christian Hammer your days as a gatekeeper to world level are over. Unless you consider Charr & Hammer world level!

He's just an awkward international journeyman now, sadly.

With a bit more motivation and application things could have panned out differently.

[Horse]

Very much so

He is a former gatekeeper. Once you lose successive landslide decisions to Manuel Charr and Christian Hammer your days as a gatekeeper to world level are over. Unless you consider Charr & Hammer world level!

He's just an awkward international journeyman now, sadly.

With a bit more motivation and application things could have panned out differently.

Johnson didn't lose by a landslide to Charr or Hammer.

Did you watch those fights?

[Bard of Boxrec]

Yes, Joshua should fight for the British title and he should try to win it outright.

Three defences at british level? No thanks

[davie]

I like to see every good British fighter go for the title.
but i'd probably have liked to see him do it a few fights before now.

if he does go for it i've little interest in seeing him make 3 defences against Richard Towers, Tom Dallas and Ian Lewison

[Horse]

Three defences at british level? No thanks

Why not?

Whyte, Lewison, Cornish vs McDermott winner & then Chisora or Price.

He could be done by the end of the year and have another few decent wins on his record.

[MrJasonM]

I think Hearn has mentioned that after Johnson, he wants Joshua to be out again in July against a live opponent, so I assume a Whyte, Chisora or a Price.

I think the first two are much more likely than Price, but if any of those three fights get made for the summer then I would like to see it to be for a British title.

[Horse]

I like to see every good British fighter go for the title.
but i'd probably have liked to see him do it a few fights before now.

if he does go for it i've little interest in seeing him make 3 defences against Richard Towers, Tom Dallas and Ian Lewison

I doubt the board would approve of Dallas. He's barely in the domestic top 20.

I also highly doubt his three defences would be that rubbish. Which of those would be his mandatory?

[Maxsplit]

Very much so

He is a former gatekeeper. Once you lose successive landslide decisions to Manuel Charr and Christian Hammer your days as a gatekeeper to world level are over. Unless you consider Charr & Hammer world level!

He's just an awkward international journeyman now, sadly.

With a bit more motivation and application things could have panned out differently.

Johnson didn't lose by a landslide to Charr or Hammer.

Did you watch those fights?

Didn't watch Charr, but I did watch Hammer fight.

Landslide is perhaps unfair, but wide was definitely the case with Hammer. Johnson just doesn't throw any combos, powers shots or anything other than a jab. He has a great jab tbf.

I just see Johnson as wasted talent.

[Mimmy]

I dont see why not actually he could win it and defend it 3 times within 12 months. Shouldnt be difficult for him to get 3 fights in this year alone

[Horse]

Didn't watch Charr, but I did watch Hammer fight.

Landslide is perhaps unfair, but wide was definitely the case with Hammer. Johnson just doesn't throw any combos, powers shots or anything other than a jab. He has a great jab tbf.

I just see Johnson as wasted talent.

I scored it for Johnson by two. I don't think many thought it was a wide win for Hammer.

[davie]

I like to see every good British fighter go for the title.
but i'd probably have liked to see him do it a few fights before now.

if he does go for it i've little interest in seeing him make 3 defences against Richard Towers, Tom Dallas and Ian Lewison

I doubt the board would approve of Dallas. He's barely in the domestic top 20.

I also highly doubt his three defences would be that rubbish. Which of those would be his mandatory?

Which is kind of the point I'm trying to make
This is why I don't see him attempting to win a British title outright as some have suggested on here
Which is why I'm unsure he'll even bother going for one in the first place

Fury, Chisora and Price (or Haye) aren't going to be interested in fighting for the British title again
If Joshua holds it I don't see them risking Hughie Fury against him (or vice versa) at domestic level
Gary Cornish and Dillian White have 0's to protect and their handlers are unlikely to feed them to Joshua
Thens there's the old guard of Sprot, Skelton, McDermot and Sexton (or god forbid Danny Williams)
Which leaves the names I mentioned or similarly uninspiring opposition like Ali Adams, Dorian Darch or Tom Little


There's hardly a deep pool of talent lining up for a shot at the British title and there'd be fewer still if AJ was the holder.
If I remember correctly, you now need to win the title and defend it 3 times. That's 4 domestic opponents you have to find to challenge a guy we already know is a level beyond that.
The only British opponents who give AJ a real test are beyond British title level and know it.

[Horse]

Fury, Chisora and Price (or Haye) aren't going to be interested in fighting for the British title again

I don't see why not.

If Joshua holds it I don't see them risking Hughie Fury against him (or vice versa) at domestic level

Probably not.

Gary Cornish and Dillian White have 0's to protect and their handlers are unlikely to feed them to Joshua

If they avoid Joshua then they are going nowhere anyway. Who are they going to cash out against, if not Joshua?

Thens there's the old guard of Sprot, Skelton, McDermot and Sexton (or god forbid Danny Williams)
Which leaves the names I mentioned or similarly uninspiring opposition like Ali Adams, Dorian Darch or Tom Little

Out of that lot only Sexton or McDermott would likely be chosen by Hearn.

You are mentioning low level, unrealistic opponents in an attempt to make trying to win the Lonsdale belt outright seem like a big step down and a waste of time.

There's hardly a deep pool of talent lining up for a shot at the British title and there'd be fewer still if AJ was the holder.
If I remember correctly, you now need to win the title and defend it 3 times. That's 4 domestic opponents you have to find to challenge a guy we already know is a level beyond that.
The only British opponents who give AJ a real test are beyond British title level and know it.

Joshua is not a level beyond domestic level.

[davie]

You are mentioning low level, unrealistic opponents in an attempt to make trying to win the Lonsdale belt outright seem like a big step down and a waste of time.

Yes I am

Tell me the 4 UK fighters you would have AJ fight to win and make 3 subsequent defences against? And I'll pick holes in your argument!

[Horse]

Yes I am

Tell me the 4 UK fighters you would have AJ fight to win and make 3 subsequent defences against? And I'll pick holes in your argument!

Whyte (for the vacant title)
Lewison
Cornish/McDermott (winner of their scheduled July fight)
Price/Chisora (mandatory)

Other possibilities: Sexton, Rogan, Towers, H. Fury.

[davie]

Yes I am

Tell me the 4 UK fighters you would have AJ fight to win and make 3 subsequent defences against? And I'll pick holes in your argument!

Whyte (for the vacant title)
Lewison
Cornish/McDermott (winner of their scheduled July fight)
Price/Chisora (mandatory)

Other possibilities: Sexton, Rogan, Towers, H. Fury.

So you've named 2 of the 3 names you told me you though he wouldn't fight as you "highly doubt his three defences would be that rubbish"
then you mention Rogan after telling me i was "mentioning low level, unrealistic opponents"

I don't think AJ will fight for a British title, but I can categorically say he wont ever hold it outright.
not unless he gets found out on the way to the top and has to drop down a level.

[Horse]

Whyte (for the vacant title)
Lewison
Cornish/McDermott (winner of their scheduled July fight)
Price/Chisora (mandatory)

Other possibilities: Sexton, Rogan, Towers, H. Fury.

So you've named 2 of the 3 names you told me you though he wouldn't fight as you "highly doubt his three defences would be that rubbish"

I mentioned Towers as a possible replacement for the more realistic and acceptable opponents.

then you mention Rogan after telling me i was "mentioning low level, unrealistic opponents"

He's a much better opponent than Darch, Adams, Little or Williams. I also only mentioned him as a possible replacement for one of the defences that I suggested.

I don't think AJ will fight for a British title, but I can categorically say he wont ever hold it outright.
not unless he gets found out on the way to the top and has to drop down a level.

There's no good reason why he shouldn't though.

So what was wrong with the four British title fights for Joshua that I mentioned?