Should Wladimir take the rematch?

[pablothunder]

Yes.. even past his best Vlad was seconds away from stopping AJ multiple times. Fight again asap.

Lol, I am guessing AJ is hoping he retires. Wlad had AJ right where he wanted him, and could have stopped him a couple of rounds after the knockdown, but maybe he was too gassed himself. I do think a younger heavyweight like Wilder would have stopped him in the same situation, provided he didn't get stopped himself first. AJ is super dangerous when fresh, but that is only about 1/2 the fight it seems.

Yup, Wlad doesn't get excited and rush in, its wise and admirable but in that round would have finished Joshua who was a sitting target. Maybe a younger version of Wlad would have siezed that moment but a younger Wlad would also have had that hint more in the tank to keep Joshua in that vulnerable place and finish the job.

[bratseth]

No. Aj is getting more experienced day by day. Will be less carefree. A seasoned aj wrecks wlad even earlier, although wlad looked better than years ago. Age mean less when your training and nutrition is on point

But an age of 42 is a massive handicap at this level of boxing. Training and nutrition can give him the needed stamina, but he will surely not getting quicker with age. A 42 year old AJ wouldn't have a chance against the younger version of himself, too.

[pablothunder]

It's a tough call for Klitschko at this point. He had Joshua on the end of a string repeatedly and all those points will stuck in his head. Yet, he went out with class. A good fight, an admirable performance leaving open lots of positives to talk about in future, plus the way he conducted himself afterwards.
It's the demonstrable case of why fighters keep going beyond the perfect exit. He could have won that a few times, he knows it, but it's the gradual decline which dragged it into the result it was. Lots of money, lots of positives, some serious questions in the background.

[Monte Fisto]

No.

He was magnificent in defeat & he has nothing left to prove.

He needs to get out whilst he still has his wealth, health & looks.

Absolutely agree with this, i felt for him last night and if he could have grabbed that win it would have been perfect for him. He has a bloody good chance in a rematch, but i don't think he needs it for reasons you state above.

[Deadendgeneration]

I get that people respect Wlad and think this would be a good way to go out all considered but that was a great fight, it could very easily have ended in round 6 or perhaps even late in 5. If it were to happen again in the next 6 months then you'd have to make him a very live underdog. Given how much I enjoyed this fight I'd be more than happy to see it again.

[Blodhemn]

If he has the desire then why not? Wlad has barely taken any damage throughout his career other than in his losses, and those weren't long, drawn out and sustained beat downs either. Joshua is made for him, lumbering and stays at range with little workrate. The main issue is that Wlad had Joshua right where he wanted him, yet let him off the hook. Same thing would most likely happen in a rematch.

[Oiky]

If he has the desire then why not? Wlad has barely taken any damage throughout his career other than in his losses, and those weren't long, drawn out and sustained beat downs either. Joshua is made for him, lumbering and stays at range with little workrate. The main issue is that Wlad had Joshua right where he wanted him, yet let him off the hook. Same thing would most likely happen in a rematch.

Great post. I agree, it was a shame that Wlad let Joshua off the hook, especially considering Joshuas recovery skills leave much to be desired, he gets hit and it goes to sh*t for him for quite some time before he properly gets back into the swing of it

But imo if Wlad wants to box Joshua again then I'm happy to see it, was a cracking fight

[punchoutsb]

I hope Wlad retires. Wlad showed last night that even at his advanced age and following a long period of inactivity that he is at the top of the game. A younger version would have gotten AJ out of there. why do it again? Even if Wlad were to win, he's old; he then likely loses to another lesser fighter closely down the road.

He said he wants one more farewell fight in the Ukraine. He's earned that right, so take a gimme (almost anyone else in the division) and ride off into the sunset. He gained fans last night and further cemented his place in boxing history as one of the greats.

[Mexi-Box]

I mean it was a razor-close fight before the KO and subsequent knockdowns. Any other fighter, and we'd be begging for a rematch. Just, I think it holds up the division if Klitschko does exercise his rematch clause. Well, there really isn't anyone out there currently that will give AJ problems.

Fury is held up, Povetkin is banned, and the rest of the competition out there is dire. Pulev is AJ's #1 contender, and I think he'd end up getting KO'd something fierce.

[RScarf1]

Other than Wlad, I think Wilder is the only one who has a realistic chance against Joshua. There will probably be a rematch, so it is a moot point now. What if Wlad wins the rematch? He probably retires and then Joshua will fight for the vacant title against whoever. Maybe Wilder. Maybe Fury if he gets in shape.

[Mexi-Box]

Other than Wlad, I think Wilder is the only one who has a realistic chance against Joshua. There will probably be a rematch, so it is a moot point now. What if Wlad wins the rematch? He probably retires and then Joshua will fight for the vacant title against whoever. Maybe Wilder. Maybe Fury if he gets in shape.

The guy that was being outboxed by Gerald Washington?

[RScarf1]

Other than Wlad, I think Wilder is the only one who has a realistic chance against Joshua. There will probably be a rematch, so it is a moot point now. What if Wlad wins the rematch? He probably retires and then Joshua will fight for the vacant title against whoever. Maybe Wilder. Maybe Fury if he gets in shape.

The guy that was being outboxed by Gerald Washington?

I'm not saying he's going to win, but he's got punching power. Who else can challenge Joshua that has a chance to win? Ortiz?

[Mexi-Box]

Other than Wlad, I think Wilder is the only one who has a realistic chance against Joshua. There will probably be a rematch, so it is a moot point now. What if Wlad wins the rematch? He probably retires and then Joshua will fight for the vacant title against whoever. Maybe Wilder. Maybe Fury if he gets in shape.

The guy that was being outboxed by Gerald Washington?

I'm not saying he's going to win, but he's got punching power. Who else can challenge Joshua that has a chance to win? Ortiz?

I think Povetkin is the only one, really. Pulev probably has a better chance than Wilder. AJ doesn't have Klitschko's jab. Ortiz has zero chance. He's been severely overrated and has been looking horrendous.

[Kalan]

Klitschko increased his pro experience from 358 to 369 rounds in this fight - a jump of 3%... Joshua moved his pro experience from 44 to 55 rounds.. That's a jump of 25% in only one fight.. Years ago they always said you needed at least 100 rounds of pro experience to have finished professional skills.. Joshua definitely got tons more out of this fight than Wladimir took from it in terms of upgrading his knowledge from a percentage point of view.

100 rounds is 20 fights that have an average distance of 5 rounds.. But if you're a big puncher you still need those rounds -- and it takes a lot longer to get them.. Wilder has 112 rounds so he should be fairly highly skilled by the old standard.. He has twice as many fights as AJ.. Joshua flattens everybody so quickly he's not getting a lot of experience in.. But I think every round with Klitschko is worth about 4 rounds with most of the guys he's been fighting.. Because so few of them could land effectively on AJ, it's harder to take away big lessons from them -- especially if they're very easy to hit.

Now, if Klitschko decides he wants another go at Joshua, he's going to be facing a better fighter at an older age.. He did very well in this fight.. It's a good time to call it quits.. If you fight Wilder or Ortiz there's a decent chance you'll get knocked out again.. Fight Joseph Parker??? I think you have a better chance to beat Parker.. But WHY??? ... I think this was a really great effort and you left a great impression on even your detractors... It's an excellent time to hang them up.

[Mexi-Box]

Klitschko increased his pro experience from 358 to 369 rounds in this fight - a jump of 3%... Joshua moved his pro experience from 44 to 55 rounds.. That's a jump of 25% in only one fight.. Years ago they always said you needed at least 100 rounds of pro experience to have finished professional skills.. Joshua definitely got tons more out of this fight than Wladimir took from it in terms of upgrading his knowledge from a percentage point of view.

100 rounds is 20 fights that have an average distance of 5 rounds.. But if you're a big puncher you still need those rounds -- and it takes a lot longer to get them.. Wilder has 112 rounds so he should be fairly highly skilled by the old standard.. He has twice as many fights as AJ.. Joshua flattens everybody so quickly he's not getting a lot of experience in.. But I think every round with Klitschko is worth about 4 rounds with most of the guys he's been fighting.. Because so few of them could land effectively on AJ, it's harder to take away big lessons from them -- especially if they're very easy to hit.

Now, if Klitschko decides he wants another go at Joshua, he's going to be facing a better fighter at an older age.. He did very well in this fight.. It's a good time to call it quits.. If you fight Wilder or Ortiz there's a decent chance you'll get knocked out again.. Fight Joseph Parker??? I think you have a better chance to beat Parker.. But WHY??? ... I think this was a really great effort and you left a great impression on even your detractors... It's an excellent time to hang them up.

Yup, Klitschko does beat a lot of other dudes in the division, but why. It doesn't do anything for him from a historical standpoint. The only thing that would really push him up in the historical rankings is avenging his losses to AJ and Fury. It's a longshot, though, because the clock is ticking too fast for him.

Klitschko beats Wilder, (possibly) Povetkin, Pulev, and anyone else in the top 10.

[dickbelden]

YES

[diddy]

Retire ? Why? He clearly has gas left in the tank. He was very close to ending this fight and probably would've if he actually went for the kill. His mistake was not overcommitting. I think he felt Joshua was a beaten man and he would systematically wear him down after the KD. However Joshua, the younger man, then got his second wind. Klitschko is capable of knocking out Joshua and probably knows it now. Joshua's chin is a big question mark. The 2 best guys he's fought, Whyte and Wlad, both hurt him. I love how all the top guys are waiting for Luis Ortiz to turn 50 yrs old before they give him is rightful title shot.

[RScarf1]

Retire ? Why? He clearly has gas left in the tank. He was very close to ending this fight and probably would've if he actually went for the kill. His mistake was not overcommitting. I think he felt Joshua was a beaten man and he would systematically wear him down after the KD. However Joshua, the younger man, then got his second wind. Klitschko is capable of knocking out Joshua and probably knows it now. Joshua's chin is a big question mark. The 2 best guys he's fought, Whyte and Wlad, both hurt him. I love how all the top guys are waiting for Luis Ortiz to turn 50 yrs old before they give him is rightful title shot.

They use the excuse of ducking Ortiz that he tested positive for a steroid. They'll give boxers nowhere near top 10 title shots, but not Ortiz.

[northern]

I think he should take the rematch.

That fight was literally a last second turn around on Joshua's part, he knew going into the final round he needed a knock out to win that fight and he threw everything he had left at Klitschko in the 11th to get the win he needed.

Joshua would come in better prepared for a lengthy fight but Wladimir would come in more prepared to handle the power Joshua can throw at him. It could be a completely different fight but potentially more exciting.

[Ilya Muromets]

He has a rematch clause. Should he take it?

In my opinion, no. That was the perfect farewell fight, and I don't see a rematch having a different outcome.

Maybe not. He doesn't have the killer instinct anymore. Joshua would never have seen round seven against a younger Wlad. He's in great shape physically. He's highly educated and famous and popular and very wealthy. No need to risk a brain injury at this point. Of course it's up to him not me.

[Horse]

Yes, then maybe a third fight.

[greg]

Wlad once said business being the biggest part of boxing...I guess he'll go for it and I wouldn't blame him for that..

[Ilya Muromets]

Yes, then maybe a third fight.

If the second fight is as good as the first and Wlad wins it, then the third playoff fight will be huge. So if Wlad let Joshua off the hook in this one, Joshua can return the favor in the next one, and both of them will then rake in the dineros because the third one will be huge.

[cold187]

no, AJ will jump on wlad early next time

[punchoutsb]

no, AJ will jump on wlad early next time

That would likely be a terrible idea.