anthony - wladimir: will it be the greatest fight since lennox-vitali?

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I think Joshua is the best heavyweight since Lewis.

Saad.... I used to think you were one of the more highminded men on this forum.... but today you have proven me wrong.

Joshua will be the one to prove you wrong.

[HomicideHenry]

I think Joshua is the best heavyweight since Lewis.

Saad.... I used to think you were one of the more highminded men on this forum.... but today you have proven me wrong.

Joshua will be the one to prove you wrong.

Based upon what evidence?

Who has he defeated to make you believe he's absolutely the best heavyweight SINCE Lennox Lewis?

Better than both Klitschko brothers? Better than Fury?

Based on what? How do you come to such conclusions?

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I use my eyes. I called kovalev the best light heavy before most anyone has heard of him. I'm not saying his resume is better, though neither Klitschko is impressive in that regard. Like I said, he's way better than fury. You'll see soon enough.

[Andrew Kearney]

Wladimir Klitschko VS David Haye was a bigger, more significant, and more meaningful fight at the time it was made. That fight was 2 undisputed champions (Wlad at heavyweight, Haye at cruiserweight) at the top of their game in a true, 50-50 fight. The hype for that fight was massive, probably the biggest buildup to a heavyweight fight in the past 15 or so years. Granted, the fight was fought very tactifully and largely failed to live up to expectations. It was not the most fan friendly fight in terms of actions

Wladimir Klitschko VS Alex Povetkin, in my view was also a "bigger fight" at the time it was made. Wladimir was paid some exorbitant amount by a Russian businessman. Wlad was the #1 guy and in his prime, Povetkin was an established #1 contender who at that point had proven himself a lot more than Joshua has today. It was a big matchup, both opponents at the top of their game, bringing a lot to the table. Povetkin had beaten better names to get to that point than Joshua has today, and Klitschko was at his best. Granted, this fight also failed to live up to its billing and was not the most memorable fight in terms of action. But in terms of context and significance, it was a much bigger fight than Joshua-Wlad.

Wladimir Klitschko VS Anthony Joshua as a matchup is basically a faded, past his prime former great against a young guy who looks strong but is unproven

[Andrew Kearney]

Wladimir VS Joshua reminds me of Joe Smith Jr VS Bernard Hopkins tbh

[RScarf1]

I think Joshua is the best heavyweight since Lewis.

I think that Joshua will beat Wladimir Klitschko, but I don't know if Joshua could have beaten him in his prime. If Joshua is the best heavyweight since Lennox Lewis, that would mean that he is better than Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko when they were in their primes. Joshua is probably the best now, but I can't say that he is the best since Lewis unless he proves it, but he may eventually.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I think Joshua is the best heavyweight since Lewis.

I think that Joshua will beat Wladimir Klitschko, but I don't know if Joshua could have beaten him in his prime. If Joshua is the best heavyweight since Lennox Lewis, that would mean that he is better than Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko when they were in their primes. Joshua is probably the best now, but I can't say that he is the best since Lewis unless he proves it, but he may eventually.

He obviously has work to do. I don't really rate the Klitschko's, especially vitali. He accomplished very little in a historic sense. AJ could pass him swiftly.

[man]

Klitschko will expose the big Brit as just another Gary Mason, Frank Bruno, Henry Akinwande....

i respect you, but i think you got this one
wrong. AJ to me seems like the rare
thing of a solid heavy weight with both
power and technique. and by the latter
i just mean his composure and balance.

of course he is nowhere near in terms
of accomplishment, but if i look back
in history one man comes to my mind
that i see AJ resembling: joe louis. not
sonic fast and flashy like ali, not super
willed like rocky, not slick as holmes
or pure power as tyson or heart as holy.
but a solid boxer with great, not so
spectacularly looking technique and
tremendous power.

i would not be surprised if AJ ends
it within three, but all my hats off to
your wisdom if wlad can "expose" him.

[candyslim]

You know Man as much as I cringe at any comparison of Joshua with an all-time great at this stage in his career, I must agree with you that stylistically they are cut from the same cloth.

I always find it quite amusing that his critics seem to find no difficulty in reconciling the fact that Joshua has no head movement and therefore supposedly easy to hit, with the fact that we still don't know how he's going to react to getting hit hard on the chin. No doubt that'll be purely due to abject quality of his opposition to-date (yes that is sarcasm)

[Bard of Boxrec]

I use my eyes. I called kovalev the best light heavy before most anyone has heard of him. I'm not saying his resume is better, though neither Klitschko is impressive in that regard. Like I said, he's way better than fury. You'll see soon enough.

Some people just won't understand.

I don't think there has been more of a groundhog day in Boxrec history than this futile back and forth over Fury, Wlad, Joshua, the concept of 'provenness' in a piss poor shallow heavyweight division vs the eye test. I'm not going to say anything on this any more because as you said Joshua is going to do my talking for me.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I use my eyes. I called kovalev the best light heavy before most anyone has heard of him. I'm not saying his resume is better, though neither Klitschko is impressive in that regard. Like I said, he's way better than fury. You'll see soon enough.

Some people just won't understand.

I don't think there has been more of a groundhog day in Boxrec history than this futile back and forth over Fury, Wlad, Joshua, the concept of 'provenness' in a piss poor shallow heavyweight division vs the eye test. I'm not going to say anything on this any more because as you said Joshua is going to do my talking for me.

The most amusing thing is the guy most equipped to upset the apple cart they dislike even more than AJ.

[HomicideHenry]

Klitschko will expose the big Brit as just another Gary Mason, Frank Bruno, Henry Akinwande....

i respect you, but i think you got this one
wrong. AJ to me seems like the rare
thing of a solid heavy weight with both
power and technique. and by the latter
i just mean his composure and balance.

of course he is nowhere near in terms
of accomplishment, but if i look back
in history one man comes to my mind
that i see AJ resembling: joe louis. not
sonic fast and flashy like ali, not super
willed like rocky, not slick as holmes
or pure power as tyson or heart as holy.
but a solid boxer with great, not so
spectacularly looking technique and
tremendous power.

i would not be surprised if AJ ends
it within three, but all my hats off to
your wisdom if wlad can "expose" him.

We agree to disagree.... but the facts are still the facts.... based on WHAT evidence is Anthony Joshua this great heavyweight that you all believe him to be?.... Who has he beaten that constitutes such praise? What credentials as an amateur gives you this idea? Has he actually improved any since his debut? For the life of me, I see him doing the same exact things he did in his pro debut, as he did in his "title defense", and it just screams one dimensional.

Like I said before.... what we are about to witness will be the Louis-Schmeling fight (the first one) where the hyped up bomber blowing everyone away, faces the cagey-crafty-wise ex champion and lets the young man make mistakes. And he will make mistakes, and mistakes he can't afford to risk against a monster puncher with laser percision like Klitschko.... In the immortal words of Schmeling prior to their fight, "I see something."

In my view, AJ is a robot: a systematic fighter always following a script, and why change the script when it's been successful so far? Straight forward, all offense and hand speed, nothing more. How many heavyweights do you know who tried that same exact same thing with Klitschko, and were ultimately destroyed? Joshua isn't going to change his style just for Klitschko, and Klitschko has something to prove to everybody: he'll more more aggressive than he was against Fury, firing shots body-to-head, head-to-body rather than one shot at a time.

I actually feel sorry, in many ways, for so many fans of Joshua. So much hope and hype rests on this young man whose only in the position he's at because 1) he looks the part, 2) he was given a championship on a golden platter without having really earned it, 3) he is that humble, calm, gentlemanly black guy that white people can get behind ((rolls my eyes)) cus had Joshua been the brash, loud, thuggish type nobody would like him and would want to see him lose: like so many wanted to see David Haye get his ass handed to him on many occasions, but at least Haye was a proven world championship caliber guy: Joshua simply is not, and hasn't demonstrated to me that he actually belongs in that same breath and class.

[HomicideHenry]

I use my eyes. I called kovalev the best light heavy before most anyone has heard of him. I'm not saying his resume is better, though neither Klitschko is impressive in that regard. Like I said, he's way better than fury. You'll see soon enough.

Some people just won't understand.

I don't think there has been more of a groundhog day in Boxrec history than this futile back and forth over Fury, Wlad, Joshua, the concept of 'provenness' in a piss poor shallow heavyweight division vs the eye test. I'm not going to say anything on this any more because as you said Joshua is going to do my talking for me.

I think you need to break those rose colored glasses, so you can finally see the truth.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Calling him the best since Lewis isn't calling him great. It's been a long draught.

[HomicideHenry]

Calling him the best since Lewis isn't calling him great. It's been a long draught.

And I'd rather listen to the "Professor of Boxingology" Lennox Lewis himself when he said clearly (many times) that Tyson Fury was the best heavyweight in the world and that Anthony Joshua wouldn't beat him--- that he's too far down the line, too far down the pecking order, to beat guys like Fury and Klitschko. And yet, you people blindly follow AJ without evidence. All you can say is "I have a gut instinct", or you use emotional arguments, "I want him to win cus he's exciting," and what the hell kind of proof or argument is that? That doesn't prove anything. Just because you want something to be true or untrue doesn't make it so.

The way you people talk you'd think Joshua was Earnie Shavers, Mike Tyson, and Muhammad Ali rolled into one mind you I will say I was impressed with him knocking out Kevin Johnson--- but then again, when has Kingpin EVERRRRRR been a threat to anyone with his low punch rate and less than stellar punch? May as well have been fighting a walking, talking heavy bag. No offense, but the outrageousness of people claiming he'll steam roll through one of the most dominate heavyweights of the passed fifty years (41 or not) is ridiculous, especially when you consider the only man he's fought that was in his "prime" and that was barely recognizable to fans was Eric Molina.... the same Molina who got kayoed by Chris Arreola in ONE ROUND.... the same Molina who went the distance TWICE with Andrew Greeley, a man who had double digit losses. Forget the wins Molina had over old man Adamek who was two sizes too small, or even old shot Davaryl Williamson.... the fact of the matter is when talking "champions", Anthony Joshua's resume is indeed the weakest of them all.

Joseph Parker for crying out loud in his 6th pro fight defeated former world champion Frans Botha, and has wins over respectable opponents like Meehan, Dimintrenko and Andy Ruiz.... and he's got 4 more fights than AJ.... I don't see him getting a shot at Klitschko or Wilder and he's far and away more proven than AJ... so you tell me how the fornicate can you say in any way, shape or form that Anthony Joshua who just two short years ago was fighting GARY CORNISH is the best heavyweight since Lennox Lewis?????? The man has not changed one iota since he won the Gold medal in 2012.... that fight with Dillian Whyte looked exactly the same as their amateur contest, and had it been a typical four or six rounder Whyte probably would have got the decision. What kind of champion never adapts, changes, improves since his amateur days?

Like I said, he's David Price all over again. The only difference is he has faster hands than Price and slightly better at boxing than the Liverpool tinman. Period. But, again, we agree to disagree. If I'm wrong I'll be the first asshole to apologize. But if I'm right I hope to be given the same courtesy. HOWEVER I WILL SAY THIS.... I hope that Klitschko doesn't bomb the young man out too badly, otherwise a Joshua-Fury, Joshua-Wilder, etc type fight in the future simply will not sell at all.

[Ilya Muromets]

...........

[Ilya Muromets]

Should be a 3rd choice - "maybe maybe not "...you never know.

[BitPlayer]

LOLOLOLOL......You guys do realize that Wlad is just trying to get one last payday right? He'll not make it out of the 3rd round. The guys never had heart in the first place. The most boring fighter on the planet will be planted into retirement and obscurity forever early in this fight. It might even be a phantom punch by AJ that does it so Wlad doesn't have to take any damage.

You all will be disappointed with this fight. I might not even watch it if there's something better on and boxing is my love. It's just going to be a waste of time. Joke.

He got off the canvas 3 times to win the fight against Peter. His chin was his problem not his heart.

[caldo2025]

LOLOLOLOL......You guys do realize that Wlad is just trying to get one last payday right? He'll not make it out of the 3rd round. The guys never had heart in the first place. The most boring fighter on the planet will be planted into retirement and obscurity forever early in this fight. It might even be a phantom punch by AJ that does it so Wlad doesn't have to take any damage.

You all will be disappointed with this fight. I might not even watch it if there's something better on and boxing is my love. It's just going to be a waste of time. Joke.

He got off the canvas 3 times to win the fight against Peter. His chin was his problem not his heart.

The sun shines on every dog's ass once in awhile and a broken clock is right twice a day. I know a MONEY GRAB when I see one and this is it. I guarantee it's Wlad's last fight and he may give let it all hang out for a couple more rounds than I think but he's not going to take punishment in this fight and go to the depths of hell to pull out a victory. Every champion has that last pay day and that last knockout or thrown towel to end their career in HW division.

AJ in England is the biggest payday Wlad could get and that's the only reason why he took the fight. Mark my words, it's nothing but a money grab and swan song. Wlad has no intention of digging deep for this upset.

[BitPlayer]

LOLOLOLOL......You guys do realize that Wlad is just trying to get one last payday right? He'll not make it out of the 3rd round. The guys never had heart in the first place. The most boring fighter on the planet will be planted into retirement and obscurity forever early in this fight. It might even be a phantom punch by AJ that does it so Wlad doesn't have to take any damage.

You all will be disappointed with this fight. I might not even watch it if there's something better on and boxing is my love. It's just going to be a waste of time. Joke.

He got off the canvas 3 times to win the fight against Peter. His chin was his problem not his heart.

The sun shines on every dog's ass once in awhile and a broken clock is right twice a day. I know a MONEY GRAB when I see one and this is it. I guarantee it's Wlad's last fight and he may give let it all hang out for a couple more rounds than I think but he's not going to take punishment in this fight and go to the depths of hell to pull out a victory. Every champion has that last pay day and that last knockout or thrown towel to end their career in HW division.

AJ in England is the biggest payday Wlad could get and that's the only reason why he took the fight. Mark my words, it's nothing but a money grab and swan song. Wlad has no intention of digging deep for this upset.

Sure if you exclude all he ones that didn't like Larry Holmes, Evander Holyfeild, Lennox Lewis, George Foreman, Rocky Marciano, Vitali Klitschko. . . .

[Kalan]

.................. I hope you will be the first to apologize when he loses

I'll be reading you talk about wlad being shot. He'd massacre fury within 3 rounds.

We will wait and see..... if I am wrong, I'll be the first to admit I am wrong

But I predicted Fury-Klitschko, Bellew-Haye, Holm-Rousey, and even the demise of David Price.

I ain't always right, but when it comes to heavyweights (primarily) I usually get it 8 out of 10 times correct.

I see nothing in Anthony Joshua, that Klitschko hasn't faced before. Kubrat Pulev (imho) is far and away better than AJ, more credentialed and skillful, and yet he only lasted five rounds with Klitschko. All it takes is ONE mistake and you're gone, especially in the heavyweight division. I think the older, wiser, more experienced Klitschko will pick his shots, wait for the right time, and when AJ is too trigger happy, therein lies his doom.

You're out of your mind... Pulev is an unskilled piece of sh!t.. He's a punching bag to no end -- who would be drilled and knocked out by Joshua so fast it would make your head spin.. Pulev has some height, good size, good reach, a jab, and a strong chin.. He can't move his head worth a damn and never learned how to box.

[HomicideHenry]

You're out of your mind... Pulev is an unskilled piece of sh!t.. He's a punching bag to no end -- who would be drilled and knocked out by Joshua so fast it would make your head spin.. Pulev has some height, good size, good reach, a jab, and a strong chin.. He can't move his head worth a damn and never learned how to box.

Look at the records..... Pulev's level of wins is far superior to anything Joshua has ever accomplished.... He may be more athletic or may look better physically than alot of guys out there, but that only takes you so far.... Pulev has wins over the likes of Thompson, Ustinov, Dimintrenko, Guinn, Arias, Harris, Chisora, Peter, Sprott, etc..... All tried and proven guys by and large.... Especially when you consider Pulev defeated the same Thompson who was coming off back-to-back knockout wins against David Price that EVERYBODY was ranking ever so highly.... Again, none of you can tell me WHO has AJ really ever fought or beaten worth a damn, all in their prime, etc that constitutes such high praise? Just because he looks like Superman doesn't mean he is Superman. Who? Kevin Johnson? The Kingpin in his last eight fights has been 2-6-0 .... getting decisioned by Charr, Hammer, Chisora, Fury, Hamer, etc. and last I checked Fury kayoed Hammer and Chisora with relative ease, so where was the real feat in knocking out an even older, slower, more shop worn version of the Kingpin?

[Freedom2013]

No.

Klitschko is age 41 and faded. Lewis was age 37 and still close to his best, just like Wladimir was still very good and close to his best at age 37.

[Syntax Error]

I remain to be convinced that this will be a good fight.

Wladimir is too risk averse these days & I can't see him willing to engage.

I think it will be an ugly(ish) fight, with Wladimir doing a lot of hugging & Joshua becoming frustrated.