Wladimir Klitschko vs. Anthony Joshua

[Rob3_142]

What's everyone doing for the fight?

I'm going to watch my team play last game of the season (Portslade Athletic), then pub with the lads, whilst watching Brighton clinch the Championship (I live in Brighton), then few beers in town with all the commotion, then back to mine around 9 for a bit of the card, wife putting out a spread, and having a full house!

Well, the fight starts live at 5am here on a Sunday morning.
Breakfast, farm duties to limber up, the recorder is set, and watch it mid morning with the missus. There will be some dead air, being live, so it's always good to watch it a bit behind so one can fast forward to the actual action. No beersies because I'd be asleep by dinner time

Fair play! Is it free to air over there?

[KiwiRider]

£2 cheaper than the UK, and £3 cheaper than the upcoming Parker fight- to which I'm definitely not paying for

[Badhusker]

Fans can say all they want about Joshua's conditioning, but until he proves he can fight hard for 12 rounds, it is a gamble, a guess. I am gambling on Wlad, even though he looked like dog crap his last fight, I know he can take a punch and go 12. I have a feeling he is motivated for this fight more than he has been for a long time. He is the challenger, and the underdog.

[lazboy]

I keep changing my mind, every time I see Wlad I'm convinced he'll pull it off.

Number one though, both men deserve respect for facing each other, it is not a cakewalk for either party. Number two, I want Joshua to win, its better for boxing that he does and I believe he would beat all the other Hw champions/high calibre contenders including Wilder, Parker, Haye, Ortiz etc but...BUT...styles make fights. Joshua is too green and as another thread discussed, seemingly has too much respect for Wlad. Not his fault but Joshua is mega hyped, his performances to date have been very impressive no doubt, but I go back to it again, styles make fights. Without going into detail, such as I believe Wlad has demonstrated a much better jab, I envision Joshua as almost a sitting duck in the later rounds, getting peppered by jabs and straights and walking on to them.

Now as for the decision, if it goes to the scorecards, unless it is a massacre the UK will give it to AJ. This is their cash cow. If i wanted to put a bet on Wlad winning, really I would have to say by knockout and I feel Joshua has enough strength, fitness to survive and Wlad has less of this to finish him off. So IMO, Wlad will win, but Joshua will get the nod.

[Kalan]

So many questions going into this fight

Can Joshua take a punch?
Can he do the distance?

How is Wlad at 41? And are we overlooking a clear decline in Wlad? 2 fights in 2 years, 1 uninspiring win against a pre-fight perceived no-hoper in Jennings, followed by a defeat against Tyson Fury - a 4/1 underdog and only 4% of posters picked him to win by pts...

Joshua has taken very hard punches.. Southpaw Mihai Nistor nailed him the hardest in the amateurs... Nistor caught AJ with 2 tremendous left hand power shots right in the arch of the swings.. AJ didn't get knocked down but you know how cautious they are in amateur boxing.. The referee gave him standing 8's.. AJ appeared alert and steady after both shots and enthusiastically stepped to resume the action, but the referee stopped it.. AJ mouthed "WHAT?" at what seemed a premature and inappropriate stoppage -- then immediately walked to Nistor's corner to congratulate him and his coach.

Whyte caught Josh with a big left hook in the 2nd round. AJ didn't wobble.. He didn't drop.. He didn't run.. He didn't grab.. He fought back and resumed control of the fight.. Dillian bragged that his chin was so strong he'd never been hurt -- that he'd never been beaten as an amateur or pro.. But that all changed when he fought the Olympic Gold Medal winner he defeated as an amateur.. When AJ nailed Dillian the Villain with a KO punch, the man dropped like he was hit with a very clean rifle shot, straight through the brain.

[Evander]

What time is the weigh in ?

[gp.]

Whyte caught Josh with a big left hook in the 2nd round. AJ didn't wobble.. He didn't drop.. He didn't run.. He didn't grab.. He fought back and resumed control of the fight.. Dillian bragged that his chin was so strong he'd never been hurt -- that he'd never been beaten as an amateur or pro.. But that all changed when he fought the Olympic Gold Medal winner he defeated as an amateur.. When AJ nailed Dillian the Villain with a KO punch, the man dropped like he was hit with a very clean rifle shot, straight through the brain.

Why do you talk like a poor quality newspaper?

[gp.]

The last time Klitschko looked good was against Kubrat Pulev, which was almost two years ago. He struggled for a good portion of his fight against Bryant Jennings and barely threw a shot against Tyson Fury.

The thing is… his partner, Hayden Panettiere, had entered rehab multiple times due to postpartum depression and she also cancelled her wedding to Wladimir (around the same period of time). In my mind, this sort of severe and well-publicised distraction must have had some sort of detrimental effect on both his training preparation and also his overall mental state.

So we’re left with a couple of scenarios, Klitschko has either simply grown “old” overnight or his personal problems have affected his performances inside the ring.

If the former is true, then Joshua wins this fight by an eighth round stoppage, but if it’s the latter (and Wladimir’s personal life has recovered, which it seems to have), then it could be one hell of a fight that could favour the Ukrainian veteran, in what could be his last hurrah.

The only thing I'd say is that at Wlad's age, two years is not "overnight". It's plenty of time for physical deterioration to become evident, speaking from experience.

[Rob3_142]

Joshua has taken very hard punches.. Southpaw Mihai Nistor nailed him the hardest in the amateurs... Nistor caught AJ with 2 tremendous left hand power shots right in the arch of the swings.. AJ didn't get knocked down but you know how cautious they are in amateur boxing.. The referee gave him standing 8's.. AJ appeared alert and steady after both shots and enthusiastically stepped to resume the action, but the referee stopped it.. AJ mouthed "WHAT?" at what seemed a premature and inappropriate stoppage -- then immediately walked to Nistor's corner to congratulate him and his coach.

Whyte caught Josh with a big left hook in the 2nd round. AJ didn't wobble.. He didn't drop.. He didn't run.. He didn't grab.. He fought back and resumed control of the fight.. Dillian bragged that his chin was so strong he'd never been hurt -- that he'd never been beaten as an amateur or pro.. But that all changed when he fought the Olympic Gold Medal winner he defeated as an amateur.. When AJ nailed Dillian the Villain with a KO punch, the man dropped like he was hit with a very clean rifle shot, straight through the brain.

AJ didn't wobble? He didn't grab?

I urge you to watch the second round of that fight again. Maybe with your eyes open this time.

[Freedom2013]

Joshua is ten pounds heavier than Klitschko


Joshua-Klitschko officials named


Joshua vs Klitschko: Anthony Joshua at his career heaviest for Wladimir Klitschko fight


The guide to Anthony Joshua vs. Wladimir Klitschko with analysis, predictions and more


Wladimir Klitschko still thinking of late trainer Emanuel Steward


Wladimir Klitschko - Keys to defeat Anthony Joshua


Vitali Klitschko arrives in London for younger brother Wladimir's showdown with titlist Anthony Joshua


Lennox Lewis assesses Joshua vs Klitschko after witnessing Wembley weigh-ins

[Kalan]

The soon to be 41 year old is going on 70 fights in his 20 year pro career. He's looked poor in his last few and isn't nearly sharp as he once was.

If the much fresher AJ is even half as good as some think, he should stop the old lion without many issues.

and it would be ugly. wlad missed
the point of an honorable out. at the
latest after pulev he should have called
it a day.

yet it's understandable why after being
a champ for a decade and still viewed
as someone who has to prove a thing
or two, he did stay.

nevertheless it is over for him. joshua
is unbeatable for him. wilder i would
see he has a minor chance. since fury
is out i would think any other fight
does not really make sense.

Don't write Klitschko off and Joshua is pretty stationery and not quick on his feet.

Every aggressive puncher who primarily cuts the ring off is described as slow afoot by unknowledgeable writers and fans.. Joshua has very quick feet but he controls the ring center -- and makes you move around the perimeter of the ring.. So his opponents are doing a lot more foot movement trying to stay out of his wheelhouse.. to the untrained eye they make seem faster afoot because they’re doing so much more footwork.. However they tend to end up on the ropes or in corners where they’re drilled and finished off.

Joshua won the Super Stars competition against other top athletes from other sports and he blew everyone away in the sprint competition... So his feet are deceptively fast... He just doesn’t dance around the ring doing the double-clutch shuffle - because he doesn’t need to... He’s on your case and is looking to KTFO of you.

[verlichte]

and it would be ugly. wlad missed
the point of an honorable out. at the
latest after pulev he should have called
it a day.

yet it's understandable why after being
a champ for a decade and still viewed
as someone who has to prove a thing
or two, he did stay.

nevertheless it is over for him. joshua
is unbeatable for him. wilder i would
see he has a minor chance. since fury
is out i would think any other fight
does not really make sense.

Don't write Klitschko off and Joshua is pretty stationery and not quick on his feet.

Every aggressive puncher who primarily cuts the ring off is described as slow afoot by unknowledgeable writers and fans.. Joshua has very quick feet but he controls the ring center -- and makes you move around the perimeter of the ring.. So his opponents are doing a lot more foot movement trying to stay out of his wheelhouse.. to the untrained eye they make seem faster afoot because they’re doing so much more footwork.. However they tend to end up on the ropes or in corners where they’re drilled and finished off.

Joshua won the Super Stars competition against other top athletes from other sports and he blew everyone away in the sprint competition... So his feet are deceptively fast... He just doesn’t dance around the ring doing the double-clutch shuffle - because he doesn’t need to... He’s on your case and is looking to KTFO of you.

Aren't you referring to smart intelligent footwork rather than "fast" footwork?

I refuse to believe that Anthony Joshua’s huge bulky physique allows him to be capable of being nimble and fleet-footed.

In my opinion, he uses a combination of his punching power, as a deterrent, coupled with his intelligence and observation skills, in order to own the centre of the ring and keep himself in a good position about 90% of the time during a fight.

In terms of Anthony Joshua appearing on Super Stars, that was five years ago, when he was 30lbs+ lighter (before he entered the professional ranks). He was 20lbs lighter than his current weight when he made his pro debut at the end of 2013.

To put 30lbs into context, it’s about four gallons of water (or 15 litres)... and that's a lot of extra weight to carry, which explains the obvious reason why his physique is a lot larger now than how he appeared in his amateur days in 2012.

[Freedom2013]

Teddy Atlas: Joshua will end Klitschko's career with a right hand in the fifth round

[Tanzio]

Teddy Atlas: Joshua will end Klitschko's career with a right hand in the fifth round

Dammit! If I had known that sooner I would not have picked Joshua by round 5 KO on ptbf

[Freedom2013]

Teddy Atlas: Joshua will end Klitschko's career with a right hand in the fifth round

Dammit! If I had known that sooner I would not have picked Joshua by round 5 KO on ptbf

I did pick Joshua by KO 5.

But now since I see Teddy's done the same, I feel like I should change it.

[Butterbean]

pm with a link anyone ?

[Thomastearns]

Predictions are just opinions, some more informed, some less. No Nostradamus here.

They don't really count either way unless there's money riding on them. However it would be nice if people would be prepared to hold up their hands tomorrow if they get it wildly wrong.

Right now, 2 hours+ to go, the overwhelming opinion is that Joshua will wipe out Klitschko. Dan Raphael is one of the few, along with Clifton Mitchell, to go for Klitschko, but only slightly.

I like both fighters and hope neither gets hurt bad, but in these kind of fights history is with the younger man. Ali v Foreman was a miracle, and Klitschko needs something similar tonight.

[RScarf1]

It's on Showtime now. Michael Buffer is introducing for the walk-in.

[BROZO]

iTS FIGHT TIME. At least Physically Wladimir looks good, he always takes care of himself it will all be a matter of weather father time is ready to cash in his chips and Wladimir looks old after a long career

[asdfjkl]

Teddy Atlas: Joshua will end Klitschko's career with a right hand in the fifth round

Dammit! If I had known that sooner I would not have picked Joshua by round 5 KO on ptbf

You can still change, your last post counts, if you don't send it during or after the fight.

[BROZO]

Joshua looks like a fornicating beast, and the future of the division needs a fighter to lead the way and clean it out for the good of the heavys. but he has not been tested till today.

[MachoTime]

Joshua making his ring entrance.

[BROZO]

hahahaha, nobody puts on a ring entrance show like the Britts. we have not had an American fighter be loved enough to put 90k asses in seats in a long time. Floyd filled stadiums because of his smart marketing but not because they were rooting for him.

[MachoTime]

Teddy Atlas: Joshua will end Klitschko's career with a right hand in the fifth round

Dammit! If I had known that sooner I would not have picked Joshua by round 5 KO on ptbf

I did pick Joshua by KO 5.

But now since I see Teddy's done the same, I feel like I should change it.

That would worry me too.

[lazboy]

Jesus Christ making the old Wlad wait and who gets lifted up on a platform before the fight celebrating before the victory. They need to calm Eddie Hearn and AJs ego. Make the event the boxing match not this theatrics.