The ‘middle fight’

[jameswilson]

Sam Jones and Frank argued during the Joyce v Dubois build up about the ‘middle fight.’ Jones said for Joyce it was Bryant Jennings, Frank thought Kevin Johnson and Razvan Cojanu. Obviously hindsight would tell us those two aren’t of the same standard.

We have quite a few decent heavyweights and some may well be able to kick onto Euro or World level. What opponents would you want to see them in with before letting them go onto maybe a final eliminator?

I think Mariusz Wach is the new Kevin Johnson, he will take prospects the distance, and to be fair he will throw more than Kevin Johnson does. I felt the Wach that fought Whte and Hughie threw far more than the KJ that fought Tyson Fury and much later AJ and Dubois.

I think Lucas Browne is a decent shout, despite the Dave Allen stoppage I think a bloke his size and with his power will ask certain questions. I think he would extend Wardley and would probably beat Allen Babic. Same with Wach.

Eric Molina could get some good fights against prospects if he extends Wardley. Obviously it would seem Hrgovic is up there with Joyce in the top prospect list hence he blew Molina away.

Junior Fa could be someone seen to extend prospects but obviously he fought scared against Parker and held.

I’m guessing Richard Lartey is no longer in that bracket but could be a fight for Babic.


What are peoples thoughts on the heavyweight middle men?

[Glass Joe]

Chisora got to be the best heavyweight gate keeper in recent times on the world stage.

[margaret thatcher]

carlos takam

hammer is good as a step below that . maybe kuzmin too


as mentioned wach is ultra durable and gives experience vs a giant opponent, though he is even slower than joe joyce and doesnt offer too much offensively these days.

[margaret thatcher]

gerald washington would be a good opponent for a lot of promising up and comers too i think, but only seems to fight in usa

[Old bones Ian]

Lucas Browne is pretty washed up now, he's fighting Paul Gallen next a former RL player and if Browne doesn't wipe him out in a couple of rounds then he's finished

[jameswilson]

The guy who fought Zhang, Jerry Forrest seems to be a decent shout too. Had it been a 12 rounder he would have chopped down the tree.

Southpaw as well I think.

[maverick23]

Robert Helenius is probably a good man to beat if you’re wanting to challenge for a title. Had a couple of decent wins against Teper and Kownacki in recent years.

[gilgamesh]

gerald washington would be a good opponent for a lot of promising up and comers too i think, but only seems to fight in usa

Hey I'm sure for the right money he'd come to the U.K.

[gilgamesh]

The guy who fought Zhang, Jerry Forrest seems to be a decent shout too. Had it been a 12 rounder he would have chopped down the tree.

Southpaw as well I think.

Yeah Jerry Forrest is a solid guy. Not great, but no gimme either.

Hell for that matter Zhang would be a guy Joyce could beat the sh*t out of, but I'm sure Zhang's people are looking to cash in on a title fight.

[gregregegg]

Takem, washington, hammer, schwartz, breazeal, Joey Dawejko, jennings. obviously depends on how you look, but if you beat any of them convincingly you are probably ready to throw your hat in the ring with some decent fighters.
Chisora kinda is too, but more to find out if you can hang with the elites (not that he is elite) but he is the guy you should beat well if you can hang with the best, should struggle with if you cant.

[joshj909]

Other than the soon to be retirees, it looks like Kuzmin is becoming one of those guys. It will be interesting to see who else turns that way who isn't already at the tail end of their career.

[D4v3]

Not sure about Browne, punch resistance seems shot

[jameswilson]

The guy who fought Zhang, Jerry Forrest seems to be a decent shout too. Had it been a 12 rounder he would have chopped down the tree.

Southpaw as well I think.

Yeah Jerry Forrest is a solid guy. Not great, but no gimme either.

Hell for that matter Zhang would be a guy Joyce could beat the sh*t out of, but I'm sure Zhang's people are looking to cash in on a title fight.

Maybe Zhang could be a first WBO defence for the Usyk, Joyce winner.

[gilgamesh]

The guy who fought Zhang, Jerry Forrest seems to be a decent shout too. Had it been a 12 rounder he would have chopped down the tree.

Southpaw as well I think.

Yeah Jerry Forrest is a solid guy. Not great, but no gimme either.

Hell for that matter Zhang would be a guy Joyce could beat the sh*t out of, but I'm sure Zhang's people are looking to cash in on a title fight.

Maybe Zhang could be a first WBO defence for the Usyk, Joyce winner.

Seems like a win-win for all involved. Zhang gets his title shot. The Usyk-Joyce winner gets a gimme 1st Title defense.

[jameswilson]

Assuming Zhang isn’t badly hurt (apparently had to go to hospital) I reckon Zhang v Browne would be a decent watch. Both seemingly thump like trains.

[gregregegg]

Assuming Zhang isn’t badly hurt (apparently had to go to hospital) I reckon Zhang v Browne would be a decent watch. Both seemingly thump like trains.

While i dont rate zhang he would spark out brown in a round now i think. Lucus brown is now sighned to fight a retired reguby leuge player and bookies have it close... thats how faded brown is.

[keirw]

Yeah Jerry Forrest is a solid guy. Not great, but no gimme either.

Hell for that matter Zhang would be a guy Joyce could beat the sh*t out of, but I'm sure Zhang's people are looking to cash in on a title fight.

Maybe Zhang could be a first WBO defence for the Usyk, Joyce winner.

Seems like a win-win for all involved. Zhang gets his title shot. The Usyk-Joyce winner gets a gimme 1st Title defense.

I could defo see it happening, probably in China too, I can imagine either Usyk or Joyce would be more than happy to fight over there for a big enough wedge.

[jameswilson]

I could defo see it happening, probably in China too, I can imagine either Usyk or Joyce would be more than happy to fight over there for a big enough wedge.

If you were his manager yes you’d definitely be in on that action.

[gilgamesh]

Maybe Zhang could be a first WBO defence for the Usyk, Joyce winner.

Seems like a win-win for all involved. Zhang gets his title shot. The Usyk-Joyce winner gets a gimme 1st Title defense.

I could defo see it happening, probably in China too, I can imagine either Usyk or Joyce would be more than happy to fight over there for a big enough wedge.

Definitely. Probably in Macau which is like the Vegas of the East now right?

I'd do it if I were them. They could probably stop him regardless or at least shut him out to the point that robbing them would be undeniable, and unforgivable.

[brilo33]

charles martin , gorman

[ThereByTheGrace]

Dubois, hughie fury, parker. All guys going nowhere fast. Beat any of them and you are in an eliminator

[brilo33]

Dubois, hughie fury, parker. All guys going nowhere fast. Beat any of them and you are in an eliminator

i think that is a bit harsh dd and hf are both still young ,parker is better than a middle fight i think deffo top 8 fighter you beat any one of them 3 usually you win a belt, but it is sport of opinions

[Crease]

Hell for that matter Zhang would be a guy Joyce could beat the sh*t out of, but I'm sure Zhang's people are looking to cash in on a title fight.

The WBO have already sanctioned Fury vs AJ, but they won't do it a second time, unless they do the WBA thing and make the winner WBO Super Champ, although I hope they don't. Then the belt will most definitely go to the winner of Usyk vs Joyce. I think that will be sanctioned for the WBO Interim title, then it will be upgraded after Fury vs AJ II is signed and recognition removed.

I'd be very happy to see the winner of Usyk vs Joyce defend their title in England against the winner of Parker vs Chisora...
And on that, the two losers facing off on the undercard would make for an interesting event.

[gilgamesh]

Hell for that matter Zhang would be a guy Joyce could beat the sh*t out of, but I'm sure Zhang's people are looking to cash in on a title fight.

The WBO have already sanctioned Fury vs AJ, but they won't do it a second time, unless they do the WBA thing and make the winner WBO Super Champ, although I hope they don't. Then the belt will most definitely go to the winner of Usyk vs Joyce. I think that will be sanctioned for the WBO Interim title, then it will be upgraded after Fury vs AJ II is signed and recognition removed.

I'd be very happy to see the winner of Usyk vs Joyce defend their title in England against the winner of Parker vs Chisora...
And on that, the two losers facing off on the undercard would make for an interesting event.

I respect Usyk vs Joyce, but I won't recognize that fight as a title fight. AJ never lost the WBO title therefore Usyk vs Joyce is a good fight between contenders. Nothing more.

[gregregegg]

Hell for that matter Zhang would be a guy Joyce could beat the sh*t out of, but I'm sure Zhang's people are looking to cash in on a title fight.

The WBO have already sanctioned Fury vs AJ, but they won't do it a second time, unless they do the WBA thing and make the winner WBO Super Champ, although I hope they don't. Then the belt will most definitely go to the winner of Usyk vs Joyce. I think that will be sanctioned for the WBO Interim title, then it will be upgraded after Fury vs AJ II is signed and recognition removed.

I'd be very happy to see the winner of Usyk vs Joyce defend their title in England against the winner of Parker vs Chisora...
And on that, the two losers facing off on the undercard would make for an interesting event.

I respect Usyk vs Joyce, but I won't recognize that fight as a title fight. AJ never lost the WBO title therefore Usyk vs Joyce is a good fight between contenders. Nothing more.

Fury never lost the WBO, so by that logic AJ has never had the WBO. same goes for all AJs belts...