fizzjambo wrote: ↑28 Nov 2022, 16:14
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.
fizzjambo wrote: ↑28 Nov 2022, 16:14
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.
One of the best posts on this forum in a long time.
