Is Anthony Joshua Being Written Off Too Soon?

[keithmoonhangover]

He got stopped by a late replacement, then completely changed his style to win the rematch. Then he lost back to back decisions against one of the best pound for pound boxers in the world. Some fans are writing him off. Are they right?

[Boxerbeetle]

I don’t think anyone is completely writing him off per se, just being realistic. Joshua never had super technical skills or ability, his main advantages were power and throwing relatively fast, albeit straightforward, combinations.

Since Ruiz I, he’s looked very hesitant and no longer has the confidence to trade punches, which means he’s negating his best attributes. He’s still comfortably in the top 3 heavyweights in the world, for now anyway.

[polecateddy]

I don’t think anyone is completely writing him off per se, just being realistic. Joshua never had super technical skills or ability, his main advantages were power and throwing relatively fast, albeit straightforward, combinations.

Since Ruiz I, he’s looked very hesitant and no longer has the confidence to trade punches, which means he’s negating his best attributes. He’s still comfortably in the top 3 heavyweights in the world, for now anyway.

It’s been said before that he’s caught between two styles. The initial PED driven muscle man and now something a bit less powerful but more boxing skill based. Not sure if he’s comfortably top 3, with Wilder on the loose. Top 5 for now until he loses to a young upstart.

[BigDoofus]

He’s still comfortably in the top 3 heavyweights in the world, for now anyway.

He's 1-1 with Ruiz, lost twice to Usyk, just ducked Fury, won't fight Wilder and needs a warmup before fighting Whyte again.

[Boxerbeetle]

He’s still comfortably in the top 3 heavyweights in the world, for now anyway.

He's 1-1 with Ruiz, lost twice to Usyk, just ducked Fury, won't fight Wilder and needs a warmup before fighting Whyte again.

Fury ducked Joshua, to fight Chisora. Just like he ducked Price

[The Gratest]

He’s still comfortably in the top 3 heavyweights in the world, for now anyway.

He's 1-1 with Ruiz, lost twice to Usyk, just ducked Fury, won't fight Wilder and needs a warmup before fighting Whyte again.

Don't forget the fashion show! He attended a fashion show!

[tonyevs]

He got stopped by a late replacement, then completely changed his style to win the rematch. Then he lost back to back decisions against one of the best pound for pound boxers in the world. Some fans are writing him off. Are they right?

It's difficult to call - he is incredibly rich and got all the celebrity he appears to want - what would drive him to carry on boxing?

Physically he is at his peak, but doubtful the desire is anywhere close to what pushed him to win and make the early defences.

[keithmoonhangover]

He got stopped by a late replacement, then completely changed his style to win the rematch. Then he lost back to back decisions against one of the best pound for pound boxers in the world. Some fans are writing him off. Are they right?

what would drive him to carry on boxing?

The same thing that drove Lennox, he got to the top of the mountain and wants to get back there. That's my opinion anyway.

[keithmoonhangover]

He’s still comfortably in the top 3 heavyweights in the world, for now anyway.

He's 1-1 with Ruiz, lost twice to Usyk, just ducked Fury, won't fight Wilder and needs a warmup before fighting Whyte again.

Doofus.... I mean this in the nicest possible way. You know when someone tells the same joke over and over and no one laughs? Yeah.,

[tonyevs]

He got stopped by a late replacement, then completely changed his style to win the rematch. Then he lost back to back decisions against one of the best pound for pound boxers in the world. Some fans are writing him off. Are they right?

what would drive him to carry on boxing?

The same thing that drove Lennox, he got to the top of the mountain and wants to get back there. That's my opinion anyway.

Lennox was a different animal to what Joshua is; it's hard to imagine Joshua ever had the drive Lennox did.
Lennox wanted greatness - Joshua is happy with just the money it would seem.

[keithmoonhangover]

what would drive him to carry on boxing?

The same thing that drove Lennox, he got to the top of the mountain and wants to get back there. That's my opinion anyway.

Lennox was a different animal to what Joshua is; it's hard to imagine Joshua ever had the drive Lennox did.
Lennox wanted greatness - Joshua is happy with just the money it would seem.

It doesn't seem that way to me. Joshua is the person that would know, not us two.

Ultimately, If he didn't want to fight, he wouldn't.

[willardx]

I think he still has mileage. A well matched fight against wallin or filip herg in the new year would be a good test of his hunger.

[Coco]

Prob no 3 in the world

[forcefraser]

What annoys me with Joshua is his total lack of fights.

He was supposed to be out in December then "at least" 3 times next year.

He won't fight until June/July 23 and then unlikely again in 2023

The guy is not hungry enough. Too much money made

[tonyevs]

Joshua appeared keen to fight Fury when he was called out - whether that was because he knew Fury had already lined up Chisora and was just making Fury look even more full of sh@t we'll never know.

But fighting a lesser known contender will be the acid test of his motivation.

[BigDoofus]

Prob no 3 in the world

[keithmoonhangover]

Prob no 3 in the world

Say what you want about Shelly, but he's a wise man when it comes to boxing.

[Lenny Cravats]

Wilder knocks AJ out, definitely.

[Spud]

Wilder knocks AJ out, definitely.

Agreed

[keithmoonhangover]

Wilder knocks AJ out, definitely.

Agreed

I'm not so sure, but I would happily pay to find out.

[fizzjambo]

I don’t think I’ve overly changed my view about Joshua over the last few years, but then again I never thought he was the relentless force that Sky and his team hyped him to be either. He’s been a good quality world level boxer who would have been top ten in many eras, but I don’t think he’s ever been someone who has come close to be spoken of as a great heavy, or even the best of his generation, but he’s been bloody decent.

The Ruiz loss shocked me, mainly because I don’t really rate Ruiz all that highly. Ruiz doesn’t have another result on his record close to his win over Joshua, in truth he’s got a very padded record himself. Joshua had height, reach, power and momentum in his favour, but he took a bit of a leathering in the end. Yes he won the rematch but Ruiz clearly was badly prepared and while Joshua boxes to plan it was hardly a master class and Ruiz was too out of shape and lacking in ambition to negate Joshua’s improved disciple.

Joshua’s built up a number of wins over guys just below world level - Martin, Whyte, Takam, etc but these aren’t wins that make a legacy. His wins that’ll set where he sits at the top level are Wlad, Parker and Povetkin. All good wins but I’d argue Povetkin and Parker were just a shade below top level and Wlad was clearly past his best, but it was still a very good win at that stage.

Usyk’s wins weren’t a surprise, yes he’s much smaller but he’s light years ahead in terms of skill and technique. There’s no shame on losing to Usyk, but there’s just too much evidence now, and too few big wins to counter that evidence, that Joshua isn’t and has never been a great heavy. No shame in that, and hopefully he keeps going and is in some more entertaining fights. Fury beats him though and I’d pick Joyce to steamroller this version of him as well. Wilder would be a great watch. Either one could wipe out the other - and it’s the one I’d most look forward to.

[ALI]

Some people are writing him off too soon, for sure. Styles make fights. I absolutely want to see him fight Fury and Wilder. The Fury fight must happen in 2023, but knowing how it goes in boxing, its probable we will never see it, which would be tragic, and a real stain on Fury's record IMO.

[mickey1975]

I don’t think I’ve overly changed my view about Joshua over the last few years, but then again I never thought he was the relentless force that Sky and his team hyped him to be either. He’s been a good quality world level boxer who would have been top ten in many eras, but I don’t think he’s ever been someone who has come close to be spoken of as a great heavy, or even the best of his generation, but he’s been bloody decent.

The Ruiz loss shocked me, mainly because I don’t really rate Ruiz all that highly. Ruiz doesn’t have another result on his record close to his win over Joshua, in truth he’s got a very padded record himself. Joshua had height, reach, power and momentum in his favour, but he took a bit of a leathering in the end. Yes he won the rematch but Ruiz clearly was badly prepared and while Joshua boxes to plan it was hardly a master class and Ruiz was too out of shape and lacking in ambition to negate Joshua’s improved disciple.

Joshua’s built up a number of wins over guys just below world level - Martin, Whyte, Takam, etc but these aren’t wins that make a legacy. His wins that’ll set where he sits at the top level are Wlad, Parker and Povetkin. All good wins but I’d argue Povetkin and Parker were just a shade below top level and Wlad was clearly past his best, but it was still a very good win at that stage.

Usyk’s wins weren’t a surprise, yes he’s much smaller but he’s light years ahead in terms of skill and technique. There’s no shame on losing to Usyk, but there’s just too much evidence now, and too few big wins to counter that evidence, that Joshua isn’t and has never been a great heavy. No shame in that, and hopefully he keeps going and is in some more entertaining fights. Fury beats him though and I’d pick Joyce to steamroller this version of him as well. Wilder would be a great watch. Either one could wipe out the other - and it’s the one I’d most look forward to.

That’s more or less my take on him. Especially the Ruiz bit. Parker, Hughie and Ortiz were super close fights and nobody rates them at all.

[DrDuke]

I don't write him off, I've just never been sold on him and always picked Fury and Usyk over him. Joshua can remain among the top fighters for sure and he will, but he's not the best out there.

[Frostieballs]

Wilder knocks AJ out, definitely.

Agreed

I'm not so sure, but I would happily pay to find out.

I think AJ proves what we all suspect about Wilders level and knocks him out without much trouble.

Either way, that PPV is worth ten times more than Fury-Chisora.