IF Klitschko Wins...

[HomicideHenry]

And defeats Anthony Joshua, would that make the victory Tyson Fury had over Klitschko be all the more impressive in the eyes of the forum members? Or would the excuse be that Joshua was worse than everyone thought? Personally, I'm picking Klitschko to win via KO in between rounds 6 through 8 if Joshua isn't capable of ending it inside of three-four rounds.

[Spiker]

IMO yes. Fury bought a gameplan that nobody expected and despite AJ being the consummate athlete he has lack of head movement and wlad has fought several like him.
I'm also picking wlad in about 5

[Rexob]

I really hope klit does​ it for many different reasons but I just think klit will have slided to much to be competitive.

[Noxy]

It wouldn't for me, Fury fights nothing like Josh. If Klit bangs out Josh, it doesn't have a lot of bearing on the other fight to my mind. Going back to that night in Düsseldorf, you have to hand it to Fury. Although I rated him before I didn't think he'd go out and boss it like that.

[BitPlayer]

Probably somewhat both.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Different styles - Joshua fights on rails, Fury has far better lateral movement.

[leejonesjnr]

I imagine that people may dismiss the Fury victory somewhat and give more credence to the idea that Wlad was affected by the issues with his wife's post partem depression and all the flying in and out of camp he had to do and only went through with the fight as he didn't genuinely believe there was any threat.

[Oiky]

Still a great win for fury

[leejonesjnr]

Still a great win for fury

Yep. Did what he needed to do to win.

[Grilling Machine]

would that make the victory Tyson Fury had over Klitschko be all the more impressive in the eyes of the forum members?

I'd have to reappraise it and give Fury more credit. Joshua was wobbled a bit by a man with average heavyweight power in Whyte, so this fight's all on Klitschko's form for me. I can't see the current Joshua ever beating the 35-year-old version of Wlad, but at the same time, Joshua probably hasn't peaked himself.

This has come at the perfect time for AJ, I think. It's one of the best fights for his self-improvement, and if he wins, he'll be in pole position for belts. The question remains over whether Klitschko'd be more aggressive towards Fury in a rematch (was his head somewhere else at the time), or would Fury's reach always put him into that relative shell...

We'll only get a hint of the answer to that if he looks terrible and gets blown out in a few rounds. I'm expecting the sort of cagey fight that'll bring up more questions than answers. We might still be wondering how vulnerable AJ is, and how shot Wlad is. I hope not.

[Taansend]

I have it 60/40 to AJ.

Wlad rarely fought someone his own size & he's 41 by fight night.

[daviddee]

If Wlad is even 80% of his capabilities he will beat Joshua and quite handily. Problem Joshua has is Klitscho has a longer reach if Joshua over extends at any time he will get knocked out. It's easy to have speed when your not getting hit back... Joshua has slow feet and will be in range for Wlads big shots. I think Joshua needs to be a bit patient wait on a mistake from Wlad do not jump in and get caught.. Tyson Fury has very good footwork and has probably the fastest hands in the heavyweight division when he fights to a game plan he is the best heavyweight on the planet.. My head tells me Wlad will just have enough and Joshua will try and jump on him early and will get stopped. However if Wlad is past it and just looking for a final big payday Joshua has a punchers chance

[Spiker]

Thing is with this also what are the chances that wlads camp thought Fury was a big fat buffoon before the fight.
Most people did and then he arrives with his twitching awkward style never been seen before.
In walks Aj.... Wlads camp know what to expect he always blasts them out and is orthodox in his approach.
I'm pretty sure they underestimated Fury and everyone is now saying wlad is past it. Providing Wlad isn't afraid of letting his hands go it could be an easy night and will prove just how awkward and skiled the fat buffoon is

[Rob3_142]

If Wlad is even 80% of his capabilities he will beat Joshua and quite handily. Problem Joshua has is Klitscho has a longer reach if Joshua over extends at any time he will get knocked out. It's easy to have speed when your not getting hit back... Joshua has slow feet and will be in range for Wlads big shots. I think Joshua needs to be a bit patient wait on a mistake from Wlad do not jump in and get caught.. Tyson Fury has very good footwork and has probably the fastest hands in the heavyweight division when he fights to a game plan he is the best heavyweight on the planet.. My head tells me Wlad will just have enough and Joshua will try and jump on him early and will get stopped. However if Wlad is past it and just looking for a final big payday Joshua has a punchers chance

I think you're saying some things here that are not necessarily very true. Firstly, I don't know why you think Joshua has 'slow feet'. He moves well for a big guy, he's very athletic and can get in and out very effectively. He doesn't have the same kind of footwork as Fury, who is always on the move, dancing side to side, back and forth, changing direction, shuffling along the ropes. But to suggest he's a plodder is poor form.

Secondly, Fury has the fastest hands in the division? Think this is well short. Joshua has quicker hands than Fury, and the likes of Parker, Ruiz, Wilder all have much quicker hands. Again, Fury has a good skillset, and very good hands, but to suggest his hands are like a blur is utter nonsense.

The thing with Joshua is, I don't think he has any one major strength. He's obviously got power, he's obviously athletic and defensively he's a very shrewd operator. He's a physically imposing figure who can't be bullied with very few in a position to trade with him. So far, in 18 fights, hardly anyone has landed a punch on him, with Whyte being the only person so far who's wobbled him, and you could argue that was only because he went in there to brawl with Whyte, instead of box. Many will argue that his opposition so far have not been sufficient to test Joshua, but the likes of Breazeale (who I think is underrated by most on here), Molina (who managed to land gloves on Wilder more than anyone gives credit for), and Whyte (who is getting himself into a mandatory position with WBC) all involved in very much a one-sided fight.

However vs. Klitschko, it poses a different question altogether. I've tried to visualise the fight over and over in my head. If Joshua blows Klitschko out inside 3 rounds, I would not be surprised. But I also could see Klitschko making it a very difficult night for Joshua. It's hard to tell exactly what factors are going to determine the outcome of this fight, and you could describe it as a genuine 50:50. If I was a betting man, I would say that the opening 1.5 rounds are cagey, each fighter establishing the range. If Klitschko doesn't engage with Joshua, AJ will just up the tempo, forcing WK onto the back foot. Alternatively, if Klitschko does engage, it may also play into Joshua's hands. Joshua is quick with the counter, and that's where the majority of his power punches come from, especially countering the overhand right.

My prediction: 5th round stoppage for Joshua.

[Asterix]

And defeats Anthony Joshua, would that make the victory Tyson Fury had over Klitschko be all the more impressive in the eyes of the forum members?

Yes, definitely. It would remove the argument that Fury beat an ageing Wlad. Whilst Joshua's stock may go down, there's no denying that he's one of the top active heavyweights.

[Dixonian]

It would add greater value to his victory for sure. But I'd be stunned if Wlad won this fight. It wasn't just the fact he was thrown off his game by Fury's unpredictability, it was the lack of handspeed too. The straight right didn't have the same speed (the same was evident previously against Jennings) and the same with his jab.

I remember Manny Steward observed that Lennox's power was more weighty. It had a clubbing power. While Wlad's was like a shotgun - it was about speed allied with technique as much anything. If you're power is reliant largely on speed, and that speed then declines, you no longer have the power. That's what i think has happened to Wlad. That's also why I think his only threat to Joshua is the left hook, as he gets his body weight right behind that punch.

But Joshua KO or points is far more likely.

[SAPFO]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/boxing/wl ... e-10109607

He tried to say "Peace" at the end, but it came out as "Piss"

You've got to love he big cheesy Kahzak Ukrainian adopted German oaf.

The Bro's would make great Bond villains. "Bond, you going to get pizza face, tell me the nuclear code"

[SAPFO]

Only going to take one left hook to see what AJ is made. I want to see AJ take these shots. I don't want to see a blowout as I suspect he'll go for. I can't see him winning a jabathon

[Asterix]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/boxing/wl ... e-10109607

He tried to say "Peace" at the end, but it came out as "Piss"

You've got to love he big cheesy Kahzak Ukrainian adopted German oaf.

The Bro's would make great Bond villains. "Bond, you going to get pizza face, tell me the nuclear code"

"I wish you all the best as well. PISS!"

[TopGun]

I really hope klit does​ it for many different reasons but I just think klit will have slided to much to be competitive.

Agree. I hope Klit does it but I think he has looked awful in his fight in New York before the Fury fight. Joshua by stoppage

[Oiky]

Yeah I'm hoping for klitschko but he's done now

Joshua will get it

[PredatorHayds]

If Wlad wins then my opinion of Fury will increase significantly.

I thought Wlad was awful against Jennings. I saw Fury's win as a mixture of him being under-rated and Wlad not being able to pull the trigger anymore.

I also really rate Joshua so I'd hold a Wlad win in high regard.

In reality I see Joshua walking through him in 5.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Yeah I'm hoping for klitschko but he's done now

Joshua will get it

I suspect this is the case.

I hate to see fighters going on that tad too long and getting beaten by people they'd have dispatched earlier in their career.

[jamesmcdonnell]

If Wlad wins then my opinion of Fury will increase significantly.

I thought Wlad was awful against Jennings. I saw Fury's win as a mixture of him being under-rated and Wlad not being able to pull the trigger anymore.

I also really rate Joshua so I'd hold a Wlad win in high regard.

In reality I see Joshua walking through him in 5.

I think Joshua has very good power, and is aggressive, but his skills aren't that great. He's got decent offensive variety, but is predictable and has poor footwork. Fortunately for him, there's not much to beat.

[Oiky]

Yeah I'm hoping for klitschko but he's done now

Joshua will get it

I suspect this is the case.

I hate to see fighters going on that tad too long and getting beaten by people they'd have dispatched earlier in their career.

Not good at all is it

Don't really rate Joshua at all